China, Russia should settle hotspot issues: President Xi

Chinese President Xi Jinping has said that Beijing and Moscow should strengthen communication and coordination between both sides on international and regional affairs to promote settlement of major issues.

"China-Russia strategic cooperation plays a key role in safeguarding peace and stability in the region and the world at large," Xinhua quoted Xi as saying while meeting Russian Presidential Administration chief Sergei Ivanov.

Xi stressed that both sides were developing a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and called on both countries to take the 15th anniversary of the China-Russia Treaty of Good Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation as an opportunity to carry forward friendly bilateral cooperation.

China and Russia had in July 2001 signed the Treaty of Good Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, laying a strong legal foundation to develop a strategic partnership.

Xi also stressed he and Russian President Vladimir Putin's support the General Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Russian Presidential Administration in holding exchanges, cooperation and learning from each other.

Asserting that close high-level exchanges guide the development of bilateral relations, Ivanov said the two countries have maintained rapid development in cooperation in various fields and close communication and coordination in international affairs.

Ivanov said the Russian Presidential Administration is willing to work with the General Office of the CPC Central Committee to implement the consensus reached between the two heads of state.

Wang Qishan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, also met with Ivanov yesterday.

Ivanov said Russia attaches great importance to anti-corruption exchanges and cooperation with China.