Kozhin expressed willingness to enhance exchanges and cooperation with China in order to share experiences and learn from each other.

State Councilor Ma Kai also met with Kozhin later on Thursday to discuss cooperation in government administration.

China and Russia enjoy an unprecedented high level of bilateral ties, as both countries' leaders and diplomats have said on many occasions.

China became Russia's top trading partner for the first time in 2010, and the two countries are seeking to nearly double trade to $100 billion by 2015.

China and Russia have also had frequent high-level exchange visits in recent years.

Newly elected Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit China this year, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Vladislav Surkov is also in China and will attend the opening ceremony of the "Year of Russian Tourism" from Friday to Sunday.

Kozhin's visit is one in a series of interactions between China and Russia to promote the strategic cooperative partnership, said Xing Guangcheng, a researcher on Russian studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Kozhin was in Beijing to specifically undertake the issues on Russia's China policies, Xing added.