BEIJING, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan Thursday called for boosting China-Russia people-to-people exchanges and laying a solid foundation for the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era.

Wang made the remarks when meeting with participants in the 12th plenary session of the China-Russia Friendship Committee for Peace and Development (CRFCPD), held Thursday in Beijing.

On behalf of Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chinese government, Wang extended congratulations to the convening of the meeting.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-Russian diplomatic relations, Wang said, adding bilateral relations have reached the best level in history, with deepened political and strategic mutual trust, robust cooperation in various fields and deepened friendship between the two peoples.

The current complex international situation presents new requirements for China and Russia to further support each other to realize common development, he said.

Wang said the CRFCPD is an important platform of people-to-people diplomacy between the two countries.

The CRFCPD should take the consensus reached by the two heads of state as guidance and focus on enhancing people-to-people exchanges, Wang said.

The CRFCPD should translate Sino-Russian friendship into more concrete actions and lay a solid foundation for building the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era.

The CRFCPD was established in 1997 under the proposal of the two countries' presidents, with the aim of deepening understanding and friendship and promoting neighborly cooperation between China and Russia.