CRI听力:President Xi Meets Putin; Proposes China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor

Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping has met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Tajikistan as part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. The Chinese leader also proposed to build an economic corridor linking China, Mongolia and Russia during a meeting of the three heads of state.

CRI's Qi Zhi has details.

This is the fourth meeting between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin this year.

Both leaders expressed satisfaction with current bilateral ties and cooperation in various fields, and agreed to push forward major cooperation projects, including the China-Russia West Route natural gas pipeline.

Putin also pointed to new perspectives and possibilities in bilateral cooperation.

"The relations between our states are developing very well. We are moving forward with almost all of our big projects. We're working as per normal, but are also opening new perspectives and new possibilities."

President Xi Jinping agreed, hailing the new progress made in the fields of high-speed rail, satellite navigation, long-range wide-body passenger jets and heavy-lift helicopters.

"I am willing to maintain close communication with you and help the two sides enhance mutual support, expand two-way openness and offer each other a helping hand, so as to jointly deal with external risks and challenges and realize our respective development and revitalization."

On the upcoming SCO summit in Dushanbe, the two leaders pledged joint efforts to steer the development of the SCO forward in line with the common interests of the countries in the region.

Xi Jinping and Putin also touched on the Ukraine crisis, with the Chinese leader stressing a political resolution and calling on Kiev to launch inclusive dialogues as soon as possible.

On the same day, Xi Jinping and Putin held a trilateral summit with Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj.

Noting that the development strategies of the three neighboring countries are highly compatible, President Xi Jinping proposed to construct an economic corridor linking the three nations.

He said both Russia and Mongolia have positively responded to China's vision on building an economic belt along the Silk Road.

President Putin also called on the three countries to strengthen cooperation to make the most of their "geographic proximity".

"Of course the geographical proximity of Mongolia, Russia and the People's Republic of China allows us to carry out good long-term projects in the spheres of infrastructure, energy and mineral resources. We definitely have things to discuss and we consider the establishment of a permanent dialogue to be important, relevant and useful."

The three leaders decided to establish a consultation mechanism at the vice foreign ministerial level to coordinate and promote trilateral cooperation.

The 14th summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is slated for Thursday and Friday in the Tajik capital.

From there, Chinese President Xi Jinping will travel on to Sri Lanka, the Maldives and India.

For CRI, I'm Qi Zhi.