The China-Russia comprehensive strategic relationship of coordination has withstood major global changes and become a good example of stable, healthy and mature international relations, Ambassador to Russia Li Hui has said.

Hailing the mechanism of regular meetings between Chinese and Russian prime ministers, Li said Premier Li Keqiang’s upcoming visit to Russia will inject fresh impetus to bilateral pragmatic cooperation.

The 19-year-old mechanism has played a crucial role in expanding bilateral cooperation in various areas, Li said.

Economic cooperation, he said, has been a major issue for discussion between leaders of the two countries.

In 2013, China-Russia trade reached $89.21 billion and China has been the biggest trade partner of Russia for four consecutive years. In the first half of 2014, the volume totaled $44.54 billion, up 3.3 percent from last year, Li said.

Leaders of both countries have pledged to raise the trade volume to $100 billion by 2015 and $200 billion by 2020.

For that end, both sides have to take substantial efforts to improve investment environment, deepen cooperation in numerous spheres and search for new growth points.

He outlined seven suggestions regarding bilateral pragmatic cooperation, including more mutual direct investment, a balanced trade flow and the expansion of settlements in local currencies.

Noting that Russia is China’s good neighbor, friend and partner, the diplomat said Russia is an indispensable partner in building the Silk Road Economic Belt, which was proposed by President Xi Jinping.

The economic belt project will not compete with existing mechanisms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization or the upcoming Eurasian Economic Union. It will rather inject more vitality to those organizations, Li said.

Cooperation between China and Russia in counter-terrorism law enforcement has yielded good results, the diplomat added.

Since 2005, China and Russia have held 10 rounds of strategic security consultations over bilateral ties and major issues of international and regional concern. The two countries have also conducted numerous joint military drills with various forces involved.

All these measures have effectively deterred the three evil forces of terrorism, extremism and separatism, and have helped maintain peace and stability of both countries and the region.

On cultural and people-to-people exchanges, the ambassador said both sides should fully implement relevant inter-governmental programs.

Against the backdrop of global economic slowdown, China-Russia pragmatic cooperation has brought tangible benefits to the two countries and peoples. The ever increasing mutual political trust between the two countries has become a main factor of international and regional peace and stability, Li said.