BEIJING (AA) - Asia's top heavyweight Russia and China increase their ties by signing 21 agreements in various fields during the visit of Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to Beijing. Russia will also supply an additional 10 million tonnes of crude oil to China each year over the next 10 years.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Russian counterpart Medvedev co-chaired the 18th regular meeting between heads of government in Chinese capital Beijing. After the meeting, Li named the meeting as an "absolute success" and said there is a consensus to boost strategic relationship between countries. Saying that two countries signed 21 agreements during the visit, Li added a cooperation between Russia and China is vital for Asia, Europe and the world in general.
In response, Russian Premier Medvedev said two sides decided to increase ties on high technology and innovation. Calling energy cooperation as the "flagship" of bilateral relations, Medvedev voiced his hope that signed agreements would be in force soon and talks on projects including natural gas would be finalized in the near future. He also said trade volume between countries should be around 200 billion USD.
After the press conference, Russian Premier Medvedev said its country will supply an additional 10 million tonnes of crude oil to China each year over the next 10 years, worth a total of 85 billion U.S. dollars. "It is a big sum of money to any country, even to China. It testifies to the fact that we have reached a higher and a brand new level of cooperation," he said during an online chat with Chinese people via Xinhuanet.com.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
