Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan met on Friday with his Russian counterpart Alexander Zhukov, pledging to promote the strategic partnership of cooperation between China and Russia.

Wang, who has just succeeded former Vice Premier Wu Yi as the Chinese chairman of the Joint Commission for the Regular Meetings of Heads of Government of China and Russia, told Zhukov, the Russian chairman, that he believed that the China-Russia strategic partnership of cooperation is developing with a lasting momentum.

He said the Joint Commission has played an important role in promoting the practical cooperation between the two countries and the development of bilateral partnership.

"China is ready to work together with Russia to further expand and deepen cooperation in such fields as trade and economy, energy sources, nuclear energy, communication, civil aviation and sci-tech, to lay a solid foundation for the healthy and steady development of bilateral ties," said Wang.

Zhukov, who is accompanying Russian President Dmitry Medvedev for a state visit to China, said he believed the strategic partnership between the two countries has reached the highest level in history, featuring record-high growth of bilateral trade volume for years.

He said it has shown Russia's great attention to the ties with China that President Medvedev chose China as the first country other than the Commonwealth of Independent States for his first foreign visit, and he believed the visit will be a great success.

He hailed the Joint Commission for the regular meetings of the premieres of both countries as an "effective mechanism", saying he hoped the two sides will make joint efforts to promote cooperation and make contribution to the development of Russia-China relations.

The two vice premiers also met with representatives of entrepreneurs of both countries after their meeting.