Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping vowed to make joint efforts with Russia to enhance the Sino-Russian strategic and cooperative partnership Tuesday afternoon.

"The partnership has benefited the two peoples and played a significant role in safeguarding the interests of the two countries. The partnership has also promoted world peace and stability," Xi said.

The partnership is also a cornerstone for international strategic balance and stability, Xi told Boris Gryzlov, chairman of Russia's State Duma and the United Russia Supreme Council.

On trade cooperation, Xi said the two sides should take measures to regulate trade and improve cooperation so as to achieve at an early date the trade volume target of $60 billion to $80 billion.

Xi expressed hope the two sides will realize enhanced cooperation in their joint border region near China's northeast and Russia's Far East and East Siberian, to speed up cross-border infrastructure construction.

He proposed the two ruling parties establish an institutionalized exchange mechanism.

Gryzlov said China's and Russia's legislative organs have deepened cooperation and played an important role in developing Sino-Russian ties.

The parties' dialogue is a new platform to boost cooperation, and thus Russia-China relations have great potential to develop.

Gryzlov is in China at the invitation of top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo.

(Xinhua News Agency May 18, 2010)