Russia-China relations are of global importance - Putin
MOSCOW. March 22 (Interfax) - Russian-Chinese relations are a major factor of global politics, President Vladimir Putin said, opening talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the Kremlin on Friday.
"We have done a great deal over the years to build our relations. Russian-Chinese relations are a major factor in global politics," Putin said.
Putin congratulated Xi on his election as the Chinese leader and thanked him for the decision to arrive in Russia on his first ever visit.
"This vividly demonstrates how much importance China and Russia attach to promoting bilateral relations," Putin said.
Putin said that trade and contacts between Russia and China have been growing in recent years.
"I am sure your visit will give a strong impetus to Russian-Chinese relations," he said.
Xi, in turn, said that Russian-Chinese relations are at their peak.
"Our states are partners in comprehensive strategic interaction. Chinese-Russian relations are at the best stage throughout their history," he said.
Xi also said that he and Putin have developed relations of friendship. "I remember very well that I visited Russia for the first time on your invitation three years ago. It was a visit which I recall with great pleasure and which made a deep impression on me. We met again in Beijing in June 2012 and we also exchanged letters and talked over the phone. I have the feeling that we remain open-hearted in our relations and our characters have very much in common. We find it easy to deal with each other and we are good fiends," Xi said.
He said the main goal of his visit is to make additional efforts to promote strategic partnership. "We exchange views substantively on all of the most pressing bilateral and international issues of mutual interest," Xi said.