On the afternoon of September 17, 2019 local time, Premier Li Keqiang and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev of Russia co-chaired the 24th regular meeting between Chinese Premier and Russian Prime Minister in St. Petersburg.

Li Keqiang expressed, China and Russia are each other's largest neighbors and are permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relationship between China and Russia. In line with the principle of mutual respect, equal treatment, mutual benefit and win-win results, both sides promote the steady and healthy development of bilateral relations. Recently, President Xi Jinping has paid a successful visit to Russia, elevating bilateral relations to the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era. Against the backdrop of growing uncertain and unstable factors in the international political and economic situation, China and Russia should strengthen strategic coordination, enhance political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation, and intensify people-to-people and cultural exchanges. This will not only benefit both sides, but also release a positive signal of safeguarding prosperity and stability of the region and the world at large.

Li Keqiang and Dmitry Medvedev listened to the work reports of Sun Chunlan, Vice Premier and Chair of China-Russia Committee on Humanities Cooperation on the Chinese side, Hu Chunhua, Vice Premier and Chairman of the Committee of China-Russia Prime Ministers' Regular Meeting and the Intergovernmental Commission for Cooperation of the Northeast China and the Far East and Baikal Region of Russia on the Chinese side, Chinese representatives of China-Russia Investment Cooperation Committee and China-Russia Energy Cooperation Committee, as well as principals of relevant mechanisms of the Russian side, First Deputy Prime Minister Anton Siluanov, Deputy Prime Ministers Dmitry Kozak, Tatyana Golikova and Maxim Akimov of Russia, and others.

Premier Li Keqiang and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev fully recognized the practical and efficient work of the various committees over the past year. Li Keqiang pointed out, the Chinese side is willing to better align the Belt and Road Initiative with the Eurasian Economic Union, maintain the steady growth momentum of China-Russia trade, improve the level of trade and investment facilitation, and strive to realize the goal of doubling bilateral trade volume. China and Russia should well implement the major energy projects, expand two-way opening up and explore the cooperation mode of refinery and petrochemical integration. The two sides should deepen cooperation in scientific and technological innovation, complement each other's strengths, fully tap into the great potential of bilateral cooperation in such aspects as basic research, applied research and industrialization of scientific and technological achievements, and well hold the China-Russia year of scientific and technological innovation. Both countries should further expand bilateral cooperation in areas including finance, agriculture, sub-national and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, so as to elevate China-Russia relations to new levels.

Dmitry Medvedev said, this year is an important year for Russia-China relations. China will soon celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and Russia and China will also celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relationship. Russia and China are important friendly neighbors. The current bilateral relations are at their best and have entered a new era. Developing relations with China is a priority for the Russian side's diplomacy and is also in line with Russia's own development needs. The two sides have intensified cooperation on the international arena and advocated that international rules in the multilateral areas should be observed while unilateral sanctions should be opposed. Against the background of rising instability and continuously rising protectionism in the international situation, the Russian side is willing to, together with the Chinese side, deepen strategic communication and practical cooperation, and expand cooperation in high-tech fields such as artificial intelligence and robotics while carrying out sound cooperation in traditional fields such as energy. The Russian side is ready to work with the Chinese side to further expand the volume of bilateral trade, promote cooperation in areas including energy, agriculture, industry, aviation and space and nuclear energy to yield more fruitful results, and strive to realize the goal of doubling bilateral trade volume. The Russian side attaches importance to the sub-national cooperation and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and stands ready to further promote exchanges at local level and exchanges between universities and youth, in a bid to consolidate the public opinion foundation for bilateral relations.

Premier Li Keqiang and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev also exchanged in-depth views on international and regional issues of common concern.

After the meeting, Li Keqiang and Dmitry Medvedev signed a joint communique of the 24th regular meeting between Chinese Premier and Russian Prime Minister, and witnessed the signing of more than ten bilateral cooperation documents in areas including investment, economy and trade, agriculture, nuclear energy, aviation, science and technology, and digital economy.

State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the above activities.