Chinese state councilor Tang Jiaxuan on Friday called for more efforts to expand trade and strengthen economic and scientific cooperation with Russia.

The two neighbors should expand bilateral trade volume, improve trade structure and enhance economic and technological cooperation, Tang said in a keynote speech on Russia Business Day held in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.

In 2006, China became the fourth largest trading partner of Russia, while Russia became the eighth largest trading partner of China, he said.

Tang expressed the hope that the two sides would increase dialogue and set up new platforms of cooperation to bring about a more favorable environment for two-way trade and investment.

China will take effective measures to expand the cooperation between areas adjacent to Russia's Far East and Siberia, the state councilor added.

Russia Business Day is part of the five-day 18th China Harbin Economic and Trade Fair that kicked off on Thursday.

Source: Xinhua