BEIJING, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- China's president and Russia's prime minister said during a meeting in Beijing their countries should build on a strategic partnership and trade.
"Both countries should continue to enhance strategic coordination, maintain the authority of the United Nations and its Security Council, safeguard the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter and the basic norms governing international relations in a bid to jointly promote world peace, stability and development," Chinese leader Xi was quoted as saying Tuesday by China's official Xinhua News Agency.
Xi, meeting with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, said both sides have a responsibility to lead as key members of the international community.
Both parties are permanent U.N. Security Council members, which gives them veto power. Both sides objected to resolutions meant to censure Syria for actions taken during the country's civil war.
Medvedev said he was eager to expand trade with China. Both sides pledged to raise the level of bilateral trade from $88 billion in 2012 to $100 billion by 2015.
Medvedev was quoted as saying ties with China "have never reached such high levels."
The Tuesday meeting was the fifth between Xi and Medvedev since 2008.
