China and Russia are holding a series of high-level consultations. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev will meet Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing this week.

Ahead of that visit, China’s Vice Premier and Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister met in Chongqing.

CGTN’s Yang Jinghao reports.

The meeting is the first high-level exchange between the governments of China and Russia since the 19th CPC National Congress. Officials on hand included those representing transportation, agriculture, science and technology, customs, finance, and environmental protection.

Vice Premier Wang Yang said bilateral trade continues to rebound this year and has good prospects for further development. He hopes both countries keep exploring new areas for cooperation, such as the development of the Far East and the Arctic, as well as the digital economy.

Rogozin said the relationship between Russia and China is at its best in history, and that Russia would like to further deepen its work with China.

“We’re not just good working partners, we’re also close friends. We help each other solve complicated problems while trying to promote exchanges between enterprises from both countries,” Rogozin said.

Rogozin also stressed the importance of efforts such as the “Yangtze River – Volga River” cooperation mechanism. China and Russia established this mechanism in 2013. Chongqing is just one of the important regions within it. Chen Min’er, Party chief of Chongqing, said the municipality would take this opportunity to further boost the overall relationship between the two countries.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev are scheduled to hold an annual meeting in Beijing on Wednesday. This will be the first meeting between the two leaders following the 19th CPC National Congress. Experts have said Premier Li is expected to run through achievements of the important Chinese political event, as well as draw a new blueprint for the development of ties with Russia.