BEIJING, July 7. /TASS/. China is prepared to advance its strategic partnership with Russia, Hua Chynying, a spokesperson for the country’s Foreign Ministry, said on Tuesday.

"We intend to advance the corresponding cooperation, especially in some strategic spheres, based on mutual benefits," the diplomat said commenting on a statement by Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin that China could buy Russian-made rocket engines.

Hua Chynying said that the talks between Rogozin and China’s Vice Premier Wang Yang "focused on a number of issues, including space and technologies".

On July 6, Dmitry Rogozin said in Irkutsk that China could buy Russian-made rocket engines for its space programme. "We intend to advance the process of finalising the most complicated intergovernmental agreements, which would regulate the issue of Russia’s intellectual property when it comes to the most hi-tech products to be sold in China. These above all include rocket engines. China is especially interested in it," Rogozin noted.

He explained that Beijing is interested in "a number of other services and goods, which are essential for the development of China’s space industry, for its lunar programme, above all". According to Rogozin, China’s lunar programme is "practically impossible without certain equipment supplied by the Russian Federation".