Russia’s Upper House Speaker Meets With Chinese President in Beijing

BEIJING (Sputnik) - A Russian delegation is on a visit to China at the invitation of Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China Zhao Leji.

Russian upper house speaker Valentina Matvienko is holding a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the visit of the Russian parliament delegation to Beijing.

During the meeting, Matviyenko delivered a message from Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Chinese president.

"The main thing that I learned from all the meetings and conversations is that China will consistently and persistently continue cooperation with Russia, preserve the friendship that exists between our countries and peoples," Matvienko said following a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

Neither Russia, nor China will allow anyone to talk to use force and threats in relations with them, the speaker added.

"We have discussed many issues of Russian-Chinese cooperation. Despite the new conditions in which we all live, I am convinced that China, as a very responsible serious state, never adapts to anyone, our relations are not subject to any conjuncture, no external political influence," Matvienko added.

Trade between Russia and China can exceed $200 billion in 2023, Russian upper house speaker Valentina Matvienko said.

"Despite all the difficulties, illegal restrictions, attempts to restrain the development of our countries, trade is growing steadily, even at a pace higher than before. There is every reason to believe that by the end of this year, we will cross the bar of $200 billion in mutual trade," Matvienko told reporters.

Earlier, at a meeting with Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China Zhao Leji, Matviyenko noted that the invitation of a delegation of the Russian parliament to China speaks of the mood to intensify Russian-Chinese cooperation.

Xi paid a state visit to Russia from March 20-22, during which he had a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The leaders signed a joint statement on a plan to develop key areas of Russian-Chinese economic cooperation by 2030.