BEIJING, March 7. /TASS/. Maintaining and developing the China-Russia relationship is a strategic choice based on the fundamental interests of the two countries’ peoples, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a news conference on the sidelines of the second session of the 14th National People’s Congress of China.

"Efforts to maintain and promote Chinese-Russian relations are a strategic choice made by the two sides on the basis of the fundamental interests of the two countries’ peoples," Wang said.

Under the strategic guidance of Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation, standing on the threshold of a new era, "have sustained a high level of functioning," China’s top diplomat noted. According to him, "the bilateral mutual political trust continues to deepen," while "the enthusiasm regarding exchanges between people is growing."