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MOSCOW. –  Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Tuesday that he would like to work with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to make plans for bilateral ties and practical cooperation so as to promote the development and revitalization of the two countries.

He made the remarks during his talks with Mr Putin in expanded format in the Kremlin.

Xi pointed out that with the joint efforts of both sides, China-Russia relations have always maintained a vigorous, healthy and stable development momentum.

The two countries have deepened political mutual trust, converging interests and people-to-people bonding, and have continued to advance cooperation in economy, trade, investment, energy, people-to-people and cultural exchanges as well as cooperation at local levels.

Xi said that he had good exchanges with President Putin and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin since arrival, and reached many important consensuses with them.

China-Russia cooperation is covering more areas, building greater consensus and delivering early harvests, Xi said, noting that more cooperation is being comprehensively advanced.

China was ready to expand cooperation with Russia in trade, investment, supply chain, mega projects, energy and hi-tech areas while meeting Mishustin in Moscow.

Since last year, in the face of the complicated external environment, the all-round practical cooperation between China and Russia has kept a sound momentum, Xi told Mishustin, speaking highly of bilateral cooperation in energy, mega projects and people-to-people exchanges.

Xi said that China and Russia were each other’s largest neighbours and comprehensive strategic partners of coordination, saying that maintaining the healthy and stable development of China-Russia ties conforms to the historical logic of bilateral relations and the fundamental interests of their peoples.

Meanwhile, Mr Putin has said he gives a “priority” to relations with African countries as he looks for international partners in the face of Western sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine.

“I want to emphasise that our country has always given and will continue to give priority to co-operation with African states,” Mr Putin said on Monday at a conference on Russian-African relations in Moscow.

He said Russia will supply foods to needy countries in Africa free of charge if an agreement on Ukrainian grain exports is not renewed.

“We are ready to supply the whole volume sent during the past time to African countries particularly requiring it from Russia free of charge to these countries,” he said, according to the Russian news agency Tass.

He said Russia will share its technologies with African nations and continue helping them produce electricity.

Russia has been expanding its influence in Africa in recent years and Mr Putin said he believes the continent will continue increasing its authority and role in the “emerging multipolar world order”.

The conference is being attended by more than 40 delegations from African countries, according to Kremlin’s press service.

Mr Putin is scheduled to host African leaders in June for the Russia-Africa summit – the second of its kind. – Agencies