Russia seeks to promote EAEU-China economic cooperation: FM

MOSCOW - Moscow aims to push forward economic cooperation between the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and China, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday.

"A prospect of creating a common economic space has been defined as a key goal," Lavrov said while addressing a conference on Russia-China relations.

He added that preparation of the trade agreement between the EAEU and China has begun.

He said the two countries had reached an agreement on aligning the China-proposed Belt and Road initiative with the EAEU.

According to Lavrov, Moscow is also considering promoting Russian President Vladimir Putin's idea of creating a broader economic partnership between the EAEU, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The top diplomat hailed relations between Russia and China as the best in history that serve as an example of interstate cooperation in the 21st century.

Lavrov said Moscow and Beijing would continue to take all the necessary steps to raise bilateral cooperation to a new level and promote justice and equality around the world.

Russia is convinced that Putin's upcoming visit to China will serve as a powerful impetus to the multi-layed Russian-Chinese strategic partnership, Lavrov added.