Chinese, Russian PMs pledge closer cooperation

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and visiting Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin pledged Tuesday to make more efforts to boost bilateral ties during a talk held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Co-chairing the 16th regular meeting between the two countries'' prime ministers along with Putin, Wen said that the Chinese government is willing to work harder with the Russian side to build a comprehensive strategic partnership featuring equality, mutual trust, mutual support and common prosperity between China and Russia, Chinese news agency (Xinhua) reported. He also pledged to advance pragmatic cooperation in various areas, as well as boost strategic coordination in a comprehensive way in order to prompt the development of both countries and make contributions to global peace, stability and development. Putin hailed the unprecedented highs that have been reached in political cooperation and cultural exchanges held between the two countries. The two sides are willing to seek new solutions for "occasionally occurring" problems, Putin said. Before their talks, Wen hosted a red-carpet welcome ceremony for Putin, who is in China for a two-day official visit. The regular meetings between Chinese and Russian prime ministers, first established in 1996, have become an important platform for guiding and coordinating bilateral cooperation.