MOSCOW — Russia is ready to increase cultural and people-to-people exchanges with China, including cooperation in sports, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, while meeting with Vice-Premier Sun Chunlan in Moscow on June 15.

Putin asked Sun to convey his cordial greetings to President Xi Jinping and thanked Sun for attending the opening ceremony of the 2018 FIFA World Cup as Xi’s special envoy.

Sun’s visit demonstrated that China attaches significance to and supports major sports events in Russia and the development of football in the world, Putin said.

Sun said Xi and Putin met recently in Beijing and exchanged views on deepening the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination, making a new blueprint for the further development of bilateral ties.

China is willing to work with Russia to implement the important consensuses reached by the two presidents and increase cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, said Sun.

Sun said she is confident that Russia will hold a brilliant FIFA World Cup and showcase its economic and social developments to the world.

The vice-premier wished the games a success and the Russian national team a good result.