Top legislator's trip to Russia promotes ties

Top legislator Li Zhanshu concluded on Saturday his four-day official goodwill visit to Russia, during which he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, leaders of Russia's legislative bodies and other Party leaders, with both sides pledging to further promote bilateral ties in the new era.

While meeting with Putin in Vladivostok, where he attended the Russia-hosted Eastern Economic Forum, Li, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the nation's top legislature, conveyed President Xi Jinping's cordial greetings and best wishes to Putin and hailed the development of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era.

Political mutual trust, strategic coordination and pragmatic cooperation between the two countries have reached an unprecedented level, setting a good example of good-neighborly friendship and win-win cooperation between major countries and neighboring countries, he said.

China is willing to continue to work with Russia to firmly support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, implement the Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative put forward by Xi, and turn the high-level political mutual trust into more pragmatic cooperation results, Li added.

Putin asked Li to convey his best wishes to Xi. He said that the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era is special and important, and that the Russian side is satisfied with bilateral relations and cooperation with China in various fields.

Russia-China trade, especially against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, has shown a sound momentum of growth, Putin said, expressing his belief that the two sides will achieve greater goals of cooperation in this area.

In Moscow, Li held talks with Chairman of Russia's State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin and Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko, and also met with leaders of the five State Duma factions.

During his talks with the two Russian legislative leaders, Li said that the two sides should strengthen exchanges of experience on national governance and legislation regarding fighting against external interference, sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction, among others.

Both Volodin and Matviyenko condemned Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi's visit to China's Taiwan region, saying that Russia firmly adheres to the one-China policy and is willing to deepen cooperation with China on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit.

Li thanked the Russian side for firmly supporting China on the Taiwan question.

When meeting with leaders of the five State Duma factions, Li said that all the groups have demonstrated their support for enhancing friendly cooperation with China, showing that it is the broad consensus of all parties and people from all walks of life in Russia to develop a partnership with China.

Leaders of the five State Duma factions expressed their willingness to play an active role in intensifying inter-party exchanges between Russia and China.

During his stay in Moscow, Li laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and visited Vladimir Lenin's former residence.