Growing friendship

Vice-Premier Li Keqiang's official visit to Russia, which begins today, will enrich bilateral relations and deepen cooperation between Beijing and Moscow.

The visit, Li's first international trip this year, has drawn wide attention as it comes when the two navies are conducting a joint drill in the Yellow Sea off China's eastern coast.

It is widely recognized that Sino-Russian ties are now in robust health and the two neighbors have maintained frequent high-level political contacts.

President Hu Jintao met his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev in late March on the sidelines of the fourth BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India, and the two leaders reiterated that both sides are committed to pushing bilateral relations to a new level.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who will be inaugurated as president for the second time on May 7, has said that Russia should let the Chinese wind fill the sails of its economic development.

Beijing and Moscow have already reaped a bountiful harvest from their pragmatic cooperation, especially in trade. Bilateral trade volume reached $79.25 billion in 2011, a year-on-year rise of 42.7 percent.

Such positive momentum leaves little room for doubt that the two countries will be able to push the bilateral trade volume to the targeted $100 billion in 2015 and $200 billion in 2020.

To deepen mutual understanding, Beijing and Moscow are promoting more cultural and people-to-people exchanges. China is holding the "Russia Tourism Year" in 2012 and the "China Tourism Year" will be held in Russia next year.

Both permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, China and Russia have worked together to address key international issues, such as seeking a peaceful settlement to the Syrian crisis and facilitating an early resumption of talks to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue.

Thanks to their close cooperation in the UN and other multilateral platforms including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, China and Russia have become an indispensable force in the quest for a multipolar world.

It is hoped Li's visit to Russia will increase strategic and political trust, beef up mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests and development path, and advance mutually beneficial cooperation in areas including trade, investment, high technology and large strategic projects. We wish the visit great success.

(China Daily 04/26/2012 page8)