Chinese president praises cooperation with Russia

Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed satisfaction over his debut trip to Russia as well as the closer ties with Moscow.

“From my point of view, my visit has already reached its aim. The results have far exceeded my expectations,” Xi told Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

Medvedev called Xi’s visit to Russia “a symbolic event”.

The Chinese leader also met State Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin. Some three dozen agreements and deals signed during his visit.

“This is the first foreign visit of China’s new leader. It means that the relations with Russia have a prior significance for China,” Naryshkin said.

“Believe me, cooperation with China is also a priority for Russia,” he added.

The Chinese leader earlier spent over seven hours with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Putin and Xi oversaw the signing of a tentative agreement between Gazprom and China National Petroleum Corporation to cooperate in the annual supply of up to 30 billion cubic metres of gas to China.

The countries also reached other deals on cooperation in banking, energy and rabbit husbandry.

Xi also went to meet students of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, where he spoke about Russia and China’s joint role in international affairs.

“Russia and China should strengthen strategic cooperation on the international scene, together defend the UN principle regulations and secure peace and stability,” Xi told the students.

–IANS/RIA Novosti

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