Che Jun, Party secretary of Zhejiang province, speaks at the dialogue between local leaders from China and Russia in Vladivostok on Sept 11. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

Che Jun, Party secretary of East China's Zhejiang province has extended hopes of deepening regional cooperation between China and Russia and forging closer ties between Zhejiang and its Russian counterparts in the future.

Che made the remark as he attended the dialogue between local leaders from the two countries in the city of Vladivostok, Russia on Sept 11.

He noted in his speech that Zhejiang is probably not a new name for the Russian people. In 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, capital city of the province and in 2015 Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev had a taste of Zhejiang's internet development during the 2nd World Internet Conference in Wuzhen, Jiaxing.

After a brief introduction to the province's economic and social development, Che pointed out that in recent years Zhejiang has expanded its friendly relations with Russian regions. With the growing trade contacts, Russia has become a major partner of Zhejiang in the sector of cross-border e-commerce.

In the field of science and culture, more than 10 universities and colleges in Zhejiang have established cooperation relations with research agencies in Russia, the Party chief said, adding that the China-Russia scientific and technological park in Quzhou operates smoothly and the direct flight route linking Hangzhou and Moscow was successfully launched at the end of July this year.

Che said Zhejiang would grasp the opportunities brought by the Belt and Road Initiative as well as Russia-proposed Eurasian Economic Union to promote the comprehensive exchanges and cooperation with its Russian peers and to contribute to better China-Russia relations in the new era.

Che met Rustam Minnikhanov, president of the Russia's Tatarstan Republic on Sept 11 and signed agreements with the local official on economy, trade, science, technologies and culture. One day later, the chief had a talk with officials from Primorsky Krai and reached a consensus on cooperation in port industry.