Vice Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Guoqing called China Russia's largest trading partner

China has been Russia's largest trading partner for 16 years. This was announced on May 17 at the opening of the Russian-Chinese EXPO in Harbin by Vice Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Zhang Guoqing.

"Russian-Chinese relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation in the new era are functioning at a high level and demonstrating steady progress," RIA Novosti quoted him as saying.

He also drew attention to the growth of cross-border transport and logistics. Zhang Guoqing also noted the successes of the PRC and the Russian Federation in cooperation between the northeastern regions of China and the Russian Far East.

"Russian energy supplies to China have reached almost $80 billion"

Russian Ambassador to China Igor Morgulov — on the growth of oil trade, new projects in education and the position of both countries on the Middle East

Earlier in the day, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that bilateral cooperation between Russia and China is expanding and yielding fruitful results. The Chinese President also added that the event would provide Moscow and Beijing with an opportunity to take advantage of the two countries' good neighborliness both to facilitate entrepreneurship and to expand comprehensive cooperation and socio-economic development of both countries.

In turn, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the Russian-Chinese EXPO provides an opportunity for direct and meaningful dialogue between representatives of business, government agencies and regions. According to the Russian leader, the rich program of the exhibition fully reflects the high dynamics of strategic cooperation and partnership between Moscow and Beijing.