Premier Li Keqiang is now on an official visit to Russia - the last stop of his four-nation schedule. His visit is set to further expand cooperation in key areas and projects between the two neighboring countries.
Premier Li Keqiang and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev met in the coastal town of St. Petersburg on Monday. The two leaders vowed to further enhance pragmatic cooperation.
It was the 21st China-Russia Prime Ministers' Regular Meeting. And 21 agreements were signed this time.
One of the strategic agreements reached was the development of Russia's Far East. The vast region covers over 36 percent of Russia's land territory and contains rich natural resources including oil and natural gas -- Exactly what China needs right now.
"The current economic situation is more complicated, as we all know. To some extent, it is related to the sharp drop in energy prices. In our country there are inherent problems in the economic structure," said Dmitry Medvedev, Russian Prime Minister.
Li said China and Russia should give full play to their complementary advantages, to add new vitality into each other's development. The Far East project will do just that.
Other agreements include civil nuclear power technologies and railway infrastructure. Premier Li said China is willing to link the Belt and Road Initiative and the Russia-dominated Eurasian Economic Union.
Cooperation in small and medium-sized enterprises and people-to-people exchanges were also highlighted. Medevdev called for increasing the number of students studying in the other side's universities, and boosting cooperation in tourism.
Before wrapping up his visit, Li Keqiang is scheduled to meet President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday in Moscow.
