24th May 2023 – (Beijing) China’s Premier Li Qiang and the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Mikhail Mishustin, held talks on Wednesday in Beijing, where they discussed the recent development of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era. The two leaders expressed their commitment to strengthening their bilateral relations and deepening cooperation in various fields to respond to the new challenges facing both countries.
Li Qiang noted that the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era has achieved a high level of development in recent years under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries. He expressed China’s willingness to work with Russia to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and promote the steady and sustainable development of bilateral pragmatic cooperation.
Li emphasised that China is willing to optimise its trade structure with Russia, expand bilateral cooperation in fields such as agriculture, trade in services, the digital economy, and green development, and mobilise local governments and enterprises to participate more in practical cooperation. He also expressed his hope that people-to-people and cultural exchanges would be strengthened, and that bilateral cooperation on education, science and technology, culture, tourism, sports, and health would be expanded.
Furthermore, Premier Li expressed China’s readiness to work with Russia and other members of the Eurasian Economic Union to strengthen the docking cooperation between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union and promote the liberalisation and facilitation of trade.
Prime Minister Mishustin spoke highly of the Russia-China relationship, acknowledging that in the face of a turbulent international situation, Russia is willing to work with China to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state. He expressed his commitment to deepening cooperation in various fields and effectively responding to the new challenges facing both countries.
After the talks, both leaders witnessed the signature of bilateral cooperation documents, which aim to strengthen the ties between the two countries. The regular meeting mechanism between the Chinese premier and the Russian prime minister will be given full play to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, and promote the steady and sustainable development of bilateral pragmatic cooperation.