"China appreciates the positive statement Russian President Vladimir Putin made concerning Chinese-Russian relations," he said. "Our comprehensive strategic partnership gained new impetus in recent years under the guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Putin. Bilateral cooperation has produced fruitful results, which contributed much to ensuring global strategic stability," the Chinese diplomat emphasized.

BEIJING, February 21. /TASS/. China appreciates Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statement about the current state of relations between Moscow and Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular briefing on Thursday.

"Last year, trade between the two countries exceeded $100 bln, cooperation in every sphere continued to grow, which brought huge benefits to our countries and people," Geng Shuang pointed out.

"This year marks the 70th anniversary of our diplomatic relations. Our countries have expressed determination to continuously boost strategic cooperation and enhance bilateral relations in order to benefit the two countries’ people and help maintain global security and stability," the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman concluded.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly on February 20 that Russia’s equal and mutually beneficial relations with China were an important stability factor in global affairs, as well as in efforts to ensure security in Eurasia, and an example of fruitful economic cooperation. According to Putin, Russia will continue to form common markets and boost the international ties of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). "In particular, we will need to harmonize the EAEU with China’s One Belt One Road initiative, which will pave the way for a large-scale Eurasian partnership," the Russian president emphasized.