Xi, Putin exchange New Year greetings

BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on Wednesday exchanged New Year greetings and pledged to work together in 2015.

In a message to Putin, Xi recalled the several meetings between them in 2014 and the in-depth exchange of views on issues of common concern. The contacts, Xi said, demonstrated the high level of China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination.

Xi said he is happy to see that the top-level design and strategic guidance they worked out have led to great results in bilateral cooperation in various fields and to a new chapter in China-Russia ties.

To constantly strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination is in line with the two peoples' wishes and the trend of the times, he said. Such a partnership is a key factor in maintaining international security and stability, Xi added.

He pledged joint efforts with Putin to expand, deepen and speed up cooperation in the new year, particularly in celebrations and commemorative activities for the 70th anniversary of the victory in World War II, and in youth exchanges, Xi said.

He also expressed the hope that bilateral relations will remain sound so as to promote development of the two countries and the two peoples' well-being.

For his part, Putin said Russia-China relations maintained momentum in all fields, and that Xi's attendance at the Sochi Winter Olympic Games and their meetings on bilateral and multilateral occasions contributed to the development of the Russia-China strategic relationship.

Noting that 2015 will bring new opportunities for win-win cooperation between the two countries, Putin pledged to work with Xi on the implementation of strategic cooperation projects and on the handling of regional and global hot-spot issues.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, also exchanged New Year greetings. They spoke highly of the fruitful results of the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination and pledged to tap potential in cooperation and to benefit the two peoples.