BEIJING, October 19. /TASS/. Chinese-Russian energy cooperation is helping ensure energy security and sustainable development not only in these two countries but also worldwide, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday.

"[Energy cooperation between the two countries] is a model of equal, mutually beneficial and pragmatic cooperation between China and Russia, which is playing a positive role in ensuring energy security and sustainable development of the two countries and even the whole world," China’s Central Television quoted him as saying in an address to the participants in the Russian-Chinese energy business forum.

"China is ready to work with Russia to build a high-level energy partnership," he stressed.

According to the Chinese leader, China is also ready to "make bigger contribution to promoting long-term, healthy, steady and sustainable development of the global energy market and the establishment of a global partnership in the area of clean energy."

The Russian-Chinese energy business forum opens in Beijing on Thursday. It will be attended by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov, and Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin.