Full coverage: China’s Leaders

China has long supported enhancing cooperation with its northern neighbor, Russia. At last year's St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli said enhanced cooperation would not only promote the two emerging markets' development, but would also benefit regional and global economic growth.

Zhang said the two countries should expand and deepen cooperation on many fronts, including energy, agriculture, high-speed rail, aviation, aerospace, finance, infrastructure and development.

The vice premier called on Russia to work with China to coordinate the Silk Road Economic Belt initiative with the goals of the Eurasian Economic Union and to strengthen regional economic integration.