[Li Qiang met with Russian President Putin] On the afternoon of October 21, Premier Li Qiang met with Russian President Putin in St. Petersburg. Li Qiang first conveyed President Xi Jinping's cordial greetings and best wishes to President Putin. Li Qiang said that in the context of the continued complex evolution of the international situation, China and Russia have maintained close coordination and are a rare stabilizing force in a world of chaos. Since the beginning of this year, the two heads of state have met twice to make further plans for deepening Sino-Russian relations and cooperation. China is willing to strengthen strategic communication with Russia, consolidate political mutual trust, expand all-round mutually beneficial cooperation, and continue to enhance the well-being of the two peoples. Li Qiang pointed out that China is willing to work with Russia to better leverage their complementary economic advantages, maintain the current good development trend of bilateral cooperation, strengthen practical cooperation in energy resources, economic and trade investment, transportation and other areas, achieve more positive results, and promote common prosperity between the two countries. Both sides should make a solid success of the "China-Russia Year of Education", continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation in culture, tourism, sports, youth and other areas, and continue to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples. In today's world, unilateralism and hegemonism are prevalent. China is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with Russia on major issues, intensify cooperation on multilateral platforms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, unite more forces in the global South, defend common interests, and uphold fairness and justice. Putin asked Li Qiang to convey his sincere greetings to President Xi Jinping and wish the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China a success. Putin said that President Xi Jinping and I have met many times this year and reached new key consensus on advancing the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era. Since the establishment of the regular meeting mechanism between the Russian and Chinese prime ministers 30 years ago, we have conscientiously implemented the results of the heads of state diplomacy and promoted the deepening and solid cooperation between the two sides. Russia-China relations are based on equality and respect, mutual benefit and win-win results, and taking care of each other's concerns. They are not affected by changes in the international situation or interfered by third parties. China has been, is and will be Russia's closest and most reliable partner. Russia is willing to work with China to deepen practical cooperation in the fields of energy, agriculture, space, civilian nuclear energy, information technology, artificial intelligence, transportation and other fields, jointly hold the "Russia-China Education Year" well, and expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges. Russia supports China in hosting this year’s APEC Leaders’ Informal Meeting and in serving as the BRICS chair next year. Wu Zhenglong attended the meeting. (Xinhua News Agency)