Xi meets Russian lower house speaker

BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday met with Sergei Naryshkin, chairman of the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament.

During a three-day tour to China, Naryshkin will attend a regular parliamentary meeting of the cooperation committee between China's National People's Congress and the State Duma.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Sergei Naryshkin, chairman of the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, May 27, 2013. [Photo/Xinhua]

The China-Russia relationship is a high-level and special one, because the two sides have provided firm and comprehensive support for each other, Xi told Naryshkin.

Xi further stated that the two countries provide mutual support on issues concerning core interests, such as as sovereignty, security, territorial integrity and development, major international and regional issues, and major natural disasters.

Xi paid a visit to Russia in March during his first foreign trip as China's new head of state.

China and Russia should take full advantage of bilateral high-level political relations to implement the consensus and achieve new outcomes for cooperation in various fields, Xi said.

Xi said the legislative bodies of the two countries should deepen cooperation and enhance coordination within the framework of multilateral parliamentary organizations to play a constructive role in facilitating bilateral ties.

Naryshkin said Russia regards China as its most important and reliable cooperation partner on regional and international affairs.

The Russian side will work together with China to promote pragmatic cooperation, further coordinate in multilateral organizations and make unremitting efforts toward long-lasting friendship between the two sides, said Naryshkin.