China and Russia should come up with new ideas and proposals for further practical cooperation, Vice-Premier Wang Yang said this week in Russia.

Wang made the remark during his five-day visit to Russia, which began on Sept 4.

He met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok during the third Eastern Economic Forum on Sept 6.

Wang said the rapid rise of the Russian economy, the stability of Russian society and the development of Russia’s Far Eastern Federal District provide energy for Russia’s economic development.

“The cooperation between China and Russia has become closer than ever in all aspects,” he said.

Putin gave Wang a warm welcome and congratulated him on the success of this week’s BRICS Summit in Xiamen, Fujian province.

Putin said he had a fruitful conversation at the summit with President Xi Jinping. Both governments have started to work together on the agreements reached by the two leaders, he said.

Wang participated in the chairmen’s meeting of the joint commission for regular meetings between the Chinese and Russian heads of government, held on Sept 4 and Sept 5, and he met with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin.

Wang said China remains Russia’s largest trading partner and their cooperation in investment and infrastructure interconnectivity are expanding steadily.

He said major programs of strategic importance are advancing, including the Yamal liquefied natural gas exploitation project, wide-body airliner production, and construction of a cross-border railway and highway bridges.