On January 8, 2013, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met with Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev at the Great Hall of the People. Patrushev is in Beijing to attend the eighth round of the China-Russia strategic security consultation.

Xi said that promoting a bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination is a priority for Chinese diplomacy. The strategic security consultation between the two countries at the beginning of a new year is very timely and necessary, Xi said. As two constructive forces in promoting healthy development of the international situation and maintaining an international strategic balance, China and Russia should further cooperate amid the complex and profound changes in the international situation, said the general secretary. Xi called on the two sides to strengthen mutual political support and coordination in international and regional affairs so as to create a peaceful, secure and stable external environment for their development and revitalization. He also urged the two countries to jointly uphold the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, safeguard international equity and justice and promote democratization of international relations.

China fully agrees with Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposals on enhancing bilateral cooperation in the economy, trade, energy, investment, finance, aerospace and other fields, Xi told his guest. China is ready to expand pragmatic cooperation with Russia to promote common development.

In the new year, Patrushev said, Russia is willing to continue strengthening Russia-China high-level exchanges, maintain close communication on major issues, and promote pragmatic cooperation in various areas and cultural exchanges so as to push bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual trust to a new level.

State Councilor Dai Bingguo attended the meeting.