WUZHEN, December 15. /TASS/. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has expressed confidence that Russian-Chinese relations are "at the high point" right now.
"At the moment, I think we are at a very high point of Russian-Chinese relations," Medvedev said at a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He thanked the Chinese leader for the opportunity "to visit a unique site — the town of Wuzhen — and exchange opinions on pressing issues of Russian-Chinese cooperation."
Medvedev thanked Xi for his recent visit to Moscow on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Victory in May 2015 and conveyed "sincere regards and best wished from President (Vladimir) Putin."
The Russian prime minister described the relations between Russia and China as "relations of partnership and cooperation." He said he plans to make a speech at a conference on Internet issues on December 16 that will focus on "agenda relevant for all countries." Medvedev also reminded that on Wednesday a closing ceremony will take place in Beijing to finish the Year of friendly youth exchanges between the two countries and open the Year of media of Russia and China.
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"The 20th meeting of the heads of governments of Russia and China will also take place — the main working mechanism in the framework of which, I hope, many important and useful documents will be prepared and signed after coordination at inter-governmental, inter-departmental and corporate levels," the Russian prime minister said.
After his speech, Medvedev thanked Xi Jinping in Chinese.
The Chinese leader, in his turn, expressed confidence that Medvedev’s visit to the country will be productive. "The high level of developing Russian-Chinese relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic importance was maintained this year, and success was attained in different spheres. Out countries actively promoted cooperation on linking EAEU (Eurasian Economic Union) and the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt. In general, our cooperation and contacts reached new bright highs," the Chinese leader said.
Recalling his recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the climate talks in Paris, Xi said that "new unity of opinions was reached on developing bilateral relations and strengthening cooperation in the fight against terrorism."
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EAEU and Silk Road Economic Belt
On May 8, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping signed an agreement on cooperation in the framework of the Silk Road Economic Belt project
The agreement envisages "linking" the Eurasian Economic Union and the Silk Road Economic Belt. "In fact, we are talking about entering the new level of partnership in the future that envisages common economic space on the Eurasian continent," Russian President Vladimir Putin said after talks.
The Silk Road Economic Belt is a project of creating a transport, energy and trade corridor between the countries of Asia and Europe. The idea of constructing the Silk Road was put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping in September 2013.
The name of the project traces back to trade routes of medieval caravans that lay through the territories of modern Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, India, Turkey, Iran and Greece. These routes were later called the "Great Silk Road."