Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan on Wednesday called for stronger economic and trade cooperation between China and Russia as he met with the Russian president's representative to the Northwest Federal District.

Chinese-Russian ties are entering a new era of comprehensive development and boosting bilateral regional cooperation is an important part of the China-Russia strategic partnership, Zeng told Ilya Klebanov during their meeting in the northwestern city.

The Northwest Federal District boasts rich resources, well- established industries, advanced technologies and prestigious universities, and its cooperation with China, spearheaded by the hi-tech industry, has a great potential for growth, Zeng said.

The Chinese vice premier said Chinese companies are encouraged to cooperate with the district in such areas as economy, trade, technology, investment and education.

The upcoming second China-Russia conference on investment promotion is a testimony to the importance China attaches to ties with the Northwest Federal District, Zeng said.

Zeng expressed the hope that the district would take the lead in boosting business ties between the European part of Russia and China and helping pushing China-Russia ties up to a new level.

Klebanov, for his part, said that as political and economic ties between Russia and China grow stronger, cooperation between his district and China are also expanding rapidly.

The conference on investment promotion figures high on the Russia-China business agenda, the presidential representative said.

Klebanov said his district stands ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China and welcomes investment in the district by Chinese companies.

Source: Xinhua