China, Russia agree to push forward pragmatic coop

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang (R) shakes hands with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Rogozin during the 17th meeting of the joint commission for the regular meetings of heads of government of China and Russia in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Oct. 18, 2013. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev will hold the 18th regular meeting of the two countries' heads of government in Beijing next week. (Xinhua/Li Yibo)

China and Russia on Friday agreed to expand pragmatic cooperation in a number of fields as senior officials held meetings in Xi'an, capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Rogozin co-chaired the 17th meeting of the joint commission for the regular meetings of heads of government of China and Russia.

President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin have drawn a blueprint for the development of bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination, Wang said, calling on the two sides to fully implement the consensus reached by the two countries' leaders.

The two sides should turn high-level political relations into fruitful results of pragmatic cooperation, according to Wang.

He said China is ready to increase its scale of trade with Russia and encouraged Chinese companies to further invest in Russia.

China is also willing to strengthen bilateral cooperation in high technology, aerospace, nuclear energy and other fields, said Wang, who called on the two sides to promote joint development of long-range wide-body aircraft and heavy-lift helicopters.

He also urged the two sides to accelerate construction of cross-border infrastructures and push forward agricultural cooperation.

Expanding pragmatic cooperation with China is a priority of Russian foreign policy, Rogozin said, noting that China is Russia's most important strategic partner.

Russia welcomes Chinese participation in Russian industrial modernization and infrastructure construction as well as Chinese investment in Russia, he said. Rogozin added that Russia is also willing to promote bilateral cooperation on large projects.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev will hold the 18th regular meeting of the two countries' heads of government in Beijing next week.