Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev met?in Moscow?Friday to discuss how to deepen the Sino-Russian comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination and exchanged views on major issues of common concern.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang meets with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.?[Xinhua]

Li said China-Russia relations have achieved remarkable progress in recent years thanks to steady bilateral cooperation in all spheres.

Russia is a key pole in the world, Li said, adding that China always views China-Russia ties from a strategic height and a long-term perspective and regards Russia's growth as an important opportunity for its own development.

Li also said China is willing to work jointly with Russia to deepen strategic mutual trust, expand all-round pragmatic cooperation, strengthen mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests, and increase strategic coordination in international affairs in a bid to elevate their comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination to a new level.

"This is not only conducive to boosting world multipolarization, but also brings real benefits to the two peoples," the vice premier added.

As two important members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), China and Russia need to map out a development strategy for SCO, enhance economic cooperation among its members, and jointly promote economic development and improve people's livelihood in the member countries, Li said.

He also expressed China's support for Russia's hosting of the 8th Group of Twenty (G20) summit in 2013.

Beijing is willing, together with all parties concerned, to promote the strong, sustainable and balanced growth of world economy, Li said.

The vice premier also called on China and Russia as well as other BRICS countries to cement economic cooperation, improve global governance, strengthen communication and coordination on international and regional issues.

For his part, Medvedev hailed Li's visit as a significant step for facilitating the development of bilateral ties, which holds great importance for the world.

Russia is satisfied with the achievements of bilateral cooperation in recent years, he said, adding that Moscow will join hands with Beijing to better implement the plan for promoting bilateral ties in the next ten years.

During the meeting, Li and Medvedev also exchanged views on enhancing economic and trade investment, energy, scientific and technological innovation, cultural and people-to-people exchanges and regional cooperation.

Li arrived here Thursday for an official visit at the invitation of the Russian government.

Russia is the first leg of Li's current European trip, which will also take him to Hungary, Belgium and the EU headquarters in Brussels.