Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, June 23, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

TASHKENT -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin met here Thursday on enhancing bilateral ties and promoting the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)'s role in regional development and security.

The two heads of state met briefly late Thursday ahead of the 16th SCO summit in Tashkent and Putin's upcoming visit to China on Saturday.

Noting that this year marks the 15th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia good-neighborly treaty of friendship and cooperation and the 20th anniversary of the two countries' strategic partnership of coordination, Xi said Putin's state visit to China bears special significance.

China is willing to join hands with Russia to carry forward their friendship from generation to generation, consolidate political and strategic mutual trust, and beef up support to each other, Xi said.

The two countries should push for the alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), and carry out closer coordination in major international and regional affairs, Xi said.

China stands ready to make joint efforts with Russia to play a positive role in the SCO's steady and healthy development, he said.

The SCO members should expand mutual support, deepen convergence of interest through win-win cooperation, and gradually resolve differences through dialogue and consultation, Xi said.

The Chinese president also urged SCO member states to facilitate regional trade and investment so as to further activate practical cooperation within the organization.

On strengthening security cooperation, Xi called for working out an anti-extremism convention at an early date and improving the mechanism for drug control.