Chinese, Russian PMs pledge closer cooperation

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and visiting Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin hold talks during the 16th regular meetings of heads of government of China and Russia, in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 11, 2011. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

BEIJING, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Premier Wen Jiabao and visiting Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin pledged Tuesday to make more efforts to boost bilateral ties during a talk held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Co-chairing the 16th regular meeting between the two countries' prime ministers along with Putin, Wen said that the Chinese government is willing to work harder with the Russian side to build a comprehensive strategic partnership featuring equality, mutual trust, mutual support and common prosperity between China and Russia.

Putin hailed the unprecedented highs that have been reached in political cooperation and cultural exchanges held between the two countries.

The two sides are willing to seek new solutions for "occasionally occurring" problems, Putin said.

During the meeting, Wen raised a six-point proposal to reinforce Sino-Russian ties.

He called on the two countries to improve their trade structure and environment and step up support for promoting two-way investment.

China and Russia have set a goal to boost bilateral trade to 100 billion U.S. dollars by 2015 and 200 billion U.S. dollars by 2020, Wen said, stating that both sides should make unremitting efforts to this end.

Wen also said both countries should further their cooperation in the oil, natural gas, nuclear energy, coal, electric power and environmental protection sectors.

"The two sides should implement the major projects they have agreed on while accommodating each other's concerns from a strategic viewpoint and a long-term perspective," Wen said.

China and Russia should also make breakthroughs in high-tech cooperation, Wen said, stating that both sides should concentrate their efforts to bolster joint research, development and innovation.

Concerning cross-border cooperation, Wen called for better infrastructure construction and the implementation and improvement of an outline for regional cooperation between northeast China, east Russia and east Siberia, which was approved in 2009.

Wen proposed mapping out a plan of action for Sino-Russian people-to-people cooperation and promoting the institutionalization of bilateral youth exchanges.

Wen said he hopes for closer bilateral cooperation within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Wen also pledged to advance pragmatic cooperation and boost strategic coordination in a comprehensive way in order to prompt the development of both countries and make contributions to global peace, stability and development.

Putin said Russia highly values its relations with China and believes that both nations enjoy a broad outlook for cooperation.

Russia is ready to strengthen strategic contact and coordination with China and expand the scope of bilateral cooperation, he said.

The two leaders also witnessed a signing ceremony for nine Sino-Russian agreements covering areas such as agriculture, tourism and economy.

Before their talks, Wen hosted a red-carpet welcome ceremony for Putin, who is in China for a two-day official visit.

The regular meetings between Chinese and Russian prime ministers, first established in 1996, have become an important platform for guiding and coordinating bilateral cooperation.