China aims to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with Russia

China is willing to share development opportunities and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with Russia, Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing said on Tuesday.

Zhang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok, Russia. Zhang was invited by the Russian government to attend the eighth Eastern Economic Forum (EEF).

Noting that the Chinese and Russian heads of state have steered the development of bilateral relations, Zhang said the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era has maintained a high-level operation, and that cooperation in various fields has a sound momentum of development.

China stands ready to work with the Russian side to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen the coordination and synergy of regional development strategies, and give full play to the role of local cooperation mechanisms of the two countries, promoting the continuous development of China-Russia cooperation to achieve new results, said Zhang.

Putin asked Zhang to convey his sincere greetings to President Xi Jinping, and thanked China for sending a high-level delegation to Russia to attend the forum.

With joint efforts of Russia and China, bilateral relations have entered the best period in history, said Putin, noting that bilateral cooperation in various fields such as economy and trade has developed smoothly, and local cooperation between the two countries is in the ascendant.

The development of the Far East has become a new growth point for cooperation between both countries, and Russia is fully confident of the prospects of bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields, Putin said.

During his stay in Russia, Zhang attended the plenary session of the 8th EEF, and met with Denis Manturov, deputy prime minister and minister of industry and trade of Russia, and Oleg Kozhemyako, governor of Primorye Territory. He also inspected bilateral cooperation projects built by Chinese-funded enterprises. 

(With input from Xinhua)