Russian Foreign Minister holds talks with visiting Chinese FM Yang Jiechi on July 13, 2007. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

     MOSCOW, July 13 (Xinhua) -- China and Russia will continue to promote cooperation in all aspects, especially in the framework of the theme years, foreign ministers of the two countries said here Friday.

    "The theme years of China and Russia give an impetus to the overall development of bilateral relations of the two countries. The Sino-Russian strategic coordinating partnership has reached its highest level. At this moment, both sides should push the bilateral relations to a new height according to the common ground reached by presidents Hu Jintao and Vladimir Putin," Yang Jiechi, foreign minister of China, said when meeting his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

    "Both sides should trust and support one another, especially on issues related to the key interest of the other side," Yang Said.

    "It is important to raise the quality of economic and trade cooperation, enlarge investment, and make out the high priority and key projects of future technological cooperation, as well as the plan for social cooperation," he said, adding that the two countries will work close at international issues.

    The "high level of strategic partnership between the two countries has born fruit under not only bilateral but also multilateral framework," Lavrov said.

    "The bountiful events of 'Year of China in Russia' have won lots of applause from the Russian people," Lavrov said, adding that "bilateral trade turnover will be higher than ever before, and the efforts to improve trade structure are taking effect."

    He expressed the hope that both sides should enhance cooperation in areas such as investment, culture, sanitation and environmental protection.

    The two ministers exchanged views on international and regional issues. They vowed to work actively with partners on the Korean Peninsula nuclear problems at the next round of six-party talks.

    They also expressed the readiness to prepare for the meeting between the two presidents at the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit due in August.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) meets with visiting Chinese FM Yang Jiechi (R).(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>