YAKUTSK - China and Russia have agreed to further strengthen energy cooperation with more large-scale projects, so as to advance the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries to a new stage.

The agreement was reached during Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli's visit to Russia, which started Friday as he arrived in Moscow for the 11th meeting of the China-Russia Energy Cooperation Committee and a start-of-construction ceremony of the Russian part of the China-Russia East Route natural gas pipeline.

Top leaders' consensus

Zhang's visit was a continuation of frequent contacts between leaders of the two countries.

A successful meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Shanghai in May helped the two countries make breakthroughs on the China-Russia East Route natural gas pipeline and other large-scale joint projects of strategic significance, bringing their comprehensive strategic partnership to a new era of development.

Zhang, who is in charge of policy making of the energy industry in China, said his attendance at the meeting of the Energy Cooperation Committee aimed to further implement the important consensus reached by the presidents of the two countries.

His less than 72-hour visit was tightly scheduled as he carried out all-round, in-depth discussions with the Russian side on strengthening bilateral energy collaboration, on which the presidents of the two countries agreed to "establish a strategic partnership of energy cooperation."

On Monday, he also flew for 5,500 km from Moscow to Yakutsk in Siberia to join Putin for the start-of-construction ceremony on the Russian part of the China-Russia East Route natural gas pipeline.

Zhang's presence on behalf of the Chinese government at the ceremony fully demonstrates China's readiness to further deepen cooperation with Russia under the complex changes in regional and international situation.

He said his Russia trip fully reflects the great importance that the Chinese government attaches to energy cooperation with Russia.

The vice premier's in-depth exchanges with the Russian side helped pave the way for China-Russia leaders meetings on other bilateral and international occasions later this year, including a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the G20 summit and the APEC economic leaders meeting.

Zhang said his visit also aimed to make preparations for a meeting between the heads of government of the two countries in October.

China, Russia to start construction of joint gas pipeline	Top 10 countries with most gold reserve