China-Russia Photo: VCG

At the invitation of Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko, from August 20 to 23, Chinese Premier Li Qiang will travel to Russia to chair the 29th regular meeting between Chinese and Russian heads of government and visit Russia and Belarus.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a press briefing on Monday that the regular meeting between Chinese and Russian heads of government is an important mechanism for delivering on the common understandings between the two presidents and coordinating practical cooperation in areas such as people-to-people and cultural exchanges. 

During the visit to Russia, Premier Li and Russian Prime Minister Mishustin will co-chair the 29th regular meeting of the mechanism and have in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations, practical cooperation and important issues of mutual interest, Mao said, noting that China-Russia relations have overcome external disturbances and maintained sound and stable growth, under the strategic guidance of the two presidents. 

As for Li's visit to Belarus, Mao said Premier Li and Belarusian Prime Minister Golovchenko will have talks together with in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields.

In recent years, under the personal guidance and with the commitment of both presidents, the China-Belarus relations have maintained sound momentum of growth. Our political mutual trust has been consolidated and Belt and Road cooperation has borne fruitful results, Mao said. 

The latest round of interactions between China and Russia is a concrete action to implement a series of consensus reached by the two countries' heads of state during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to China in May, said Wan Qingsong, an expert at the Center for Russian Studies at East China Normal University.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, the meeting between the Chinese and Russian heads of government has been held annually since its launch in 1996. Cui Heng, a scholar from the Shanghai-based China National Institute for SCO International Exchange and Judicial Cooperation, said the mechanism is a constructive complement to the leaders' summit.

The heads of government of China and Russia are more in charge of economic affairs and the implementation of practical cooperation projects, Cui said. 

Premier Li's visit is expected to cover a wide range of topics and a full agenda, which will further push bilateral cooperation to a more in-depth and comprehensive level, Cui said.