Chinese FM meets Russian counterpart in NE China

HARBIN—Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met on Wednesday his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Harbin, capital of northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, vowing to promote bilateral pragmatic cooperation.
Yang said the strategic partnership of coordination between China and Russia continued to develop this year, in particular, the activities celebrating the Year of China in Russia had achieved positive results and further enhanced the mutual political trust.
Yang pointed out that the leaders of the two countries have met many times on various occasions this year and reached a series of new consensus concerning the bilateral strategic partnership of coordination and bilateral cooperation in various fields, noting that Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s forthcoming visit to Russia would be another big event in developing overall bilateral ties. China is willing to make joint efforts with Russia to continuously bring the bilateral relationship to a new high, Yang said.
Yang also said the bilateral cooperation in dealing with international and regional issues was successful and effective.
Yang said China and Russia should also deepen bilateral cooperation at the local level and make it a new highlight in overall China-Russia relationship.
Lavrov gave positive comment on the achievements made in promoting the strategic partnership of coordination between the two countries, noting that Russia is ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation in order to make preparations for Wen’s visit to Russia as well as for the twelfth regular meeting between the prime ministers of the two countries.
Lavrov said his country would actively promote the bilateral cooperation at the local level and pragmatic cooperation in various other fields.
Lavrov also expressed his congratulation on the successful convening of the seventeenth national congress of the Communist Party of China, saying that the congress marked a key milestone on China’s way towards greater prosperity.
Yang and Lavrov were both in Harbin for a tri-party meeting of the foreign ministers from China, Russia and India to be held in the city.
On Wednesday, Yang and Lavrov also jointly attended a ceremony to relocate a local cemetery for former Soviet Union Red Army martyrs.

—Xinhua