China, Russia to strengthen cooperation in international affairs

China and Russia agreed to continue to step up communication and coordination in international affairs and strengthen bilateral ties, according to a news release from the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Saturday.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu went to Russia from February 2 to 3 for consultations between Chinese and Russian foreign ministries, during which he met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and held talks with Russian Deputy Foreign Ministers Andrey Rudenko and Sergey Vershinin.

Ma had an in-depth exchange of views with the Russian side on China-Russia relations, bilateral and multilateral cooperation, as well as international and regional issues of common interest.

He stressed that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination between China and Russia has maintained a high-level momentum of development and the two countries have deepened political mutual trust, advanced cooperation in various fields and intensified international coordination.

He noted that China is willing to work with Russia to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and push for new progress in bilateral relations in the new year.

The Russia side expressed that Russia is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China, implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and deepen bilateral and multilateral strategic coordination, adding it will also step up communication and coordination in international and regional affairs and take Russia-China relations to a higher level.