BEIJING, April 23. /TASS/. Chinese President Xi Jinping has called Chinese-Russian relations valuable heritage of the two states at a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the Chinese Foreign Ministry reported on Monday.

"Relations between the two countries are at a high level and are valuable heritage of the two countries. Chinese-Russian comprehensive strategic partnership is actively developing," the Chinese Foreign Ministry quoted the president as saying. "Our countries should continue to help high-level cooperation galvanize development of bilateral relations between China and Russia."

"I believe that thanks to our joint efforts relations between China and Russia will always have positive effects and will keep reaching new heights," the Chinese Foreign Ministry cited Xi Jinping.

The Chinese leader hopes that thus Beijing and Moscow will contribute to consolidation of humanity with common fate.

Xi Jinping has invited the Russian side to pool efforts to protect generally recognized principles of international law.

"We should pool efforts to protect generally recognized principles of international relations based on the norms of international law," Xi Jinping was quoted as saying at a meeting with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

For these ends, in his words, the two nations should expand cooperation within such formats as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), BRICS (an acronym standing for an association of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), and the Group of Twenty.

"We should consolidate efforts with all other countries to build international relations of a new type," Xi stressed.

Belt and Road Initiative

 Xi Jinping suggested joint development of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) projects and China’s Belt and Road Initiative at a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the Chinese Foreign Ministry reported.

"The two countries’ leaders reached important agreements, in accordance with which we should help unite the Belt and Road Initiative and the EAEU [projects,])" the Chinese Foreign Ministry quoted Xi Jinping as saying. "It is necessary to support each other on the world stage when dealing with everyday issues."

SCO summit

President Xi Jinping said he is convinced that a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to be held in China’s Qingdao in June will make a serious contribution to the development of multilateral cooperation and will help enhance regional security.

"The summit will give a fresh impetus to the development of the SCO, to strengthening of security and stability in the region," he said at a meeting with heads of SCO military delegations. The organization, in his words, has made a "huge contribution to enhancing regional security." He said that the SCO’s role on the global arena has been increasing.

The Russia delegation is led by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who will take part in a meeting of the SCO defense ministers on Tuesday.

Shoigu’s press secretary, Rossiyana Markovskaya, said earlier that the defense ministers from Russia, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan were expected to exchange views on current issues of international and regional security. "They will discuss joint measures to consolidate efforts to promptly react to new challenges and threats in the SCO’s zone of responsibility," she said. "Apart from that, they will sum up the results of military cooperation throughout past year and look at promising areas of defense cooperation within the organization.".

The Russian top diplomat is currently on a two-day visit to China. He already met with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi.

On April 24, Lavrov will take part in a meeting of SCO foreign ministers.