Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Tuesday said that promoting relations with Russia is a priority for Chinese diplomacy as he met with a Russian delegation in Beijing.

Xi, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, told Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev that China will continue to push forward a bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination.

Patrushev is in Beijing to attend the eighth round of the China-Russia strategic security consultation from January 8 to 9, co-chairing the discussion along with Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo.

The consultation at the beginning of a new year is very timely and necessary, Xi said.

As two constructive forces in promoting healthy development of the international situation and maintaining an international strategic balance, China and Russia should further cooperate, according to the general secretary.

Xi called on the two sides to strengthen mutual political support and coordination in international and regional affairs so as to create a peaceful, secure and stable external environment for their development and revitalization.

He also urged the two countries to jointly uphold the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, safeguard international equity and justice and promote democratization of international relations.

China fully agrees with Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposals on enhancing bilateral cooperation in the economy, trade, energy, investment, finance, aerospace and other fields, Xi told his guest.

In the new year, Patrushev said, Russia is willing to continue strengthening Russia-China high-level exchanges, maintain close communication on major issues, and promote pragmatic cooperation in various areas and cultural exchanges so as to push bilateral coordination on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual trust to a new level.

(Xinhua News Agency January 8, 2013)