BEIJING — China and Russia held a reception celebrating their 65 years of diplomatic relations on Sept 23.

Top legislator Zhang Dejiang and visiting Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko joined more than 200 people at the reception at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing.

Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, China’s top legislature, reviewed the development of bilateral relations.

Zhang characterized China-Russia relations as a model for how major countries get along with one another in the 21st century, citing political trust, pragmatic collaboration, people-to-people exchanges and coordination on international affairs.

China-Russia relations work for the fundamental interests of the two countries and have profound international significance, he said.

Saying that bilateral relations stand at a new starting point, Zhang called on the two countries to enhance trust, make best use of existing cooperation mechanisms and support the other’s endeavors to maintain stability, seek economic prosperity and improve people’s living standards.

The legislator called on the two peoples to carry forward traditional friendship, boost exchanges among social circles and consolidate the social and public foundation of the bilateral relations.

Matviyenko said Russia-China relations have become mature and are at a historic high.

The bilateral strategic partnership of coordination is in the fundamental interests of the two peoples and works for world peace and development, she said.