On the afternoon of March 18, 2013, China's new Premier Li Keqiang held a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev.

Medvedev congratulated Li on his endorsement as premier, and said Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit to Russia indicates the high level of the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination between Russia and China. Medvedev said he would like to establish sound working relations with Li and work with him to promote pragmatic cooperation in all fields through the regular Russia-China premier-level meetings.

Li thanked Medvedev for sending congratulations upon his endorsement as the new Chinese premier. The promotion of the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination between the giant neighbors will not only serve the two sides' interests, but contribute to world peace, stability and development. President Xi's upcoming state visit to Russia will inject a new impetus into the two countries' relations, he said.

Li said he is willing to work with Medvedev to promote relations between the two countries which is a priority for Chinese diplomacy and push China-Russia comprehensive cooperation to a higher level. The regular Russia-China premier-level meeting mechanism, as an important platform for planning and coordinating the Sino-Russian cooperation in various fields, plays an irreplaceable role. The Chinese premier invited Medvedev to visit China in the second half of the year for the 18th premier-level talks between the two countries to exchange in-depth views on further pushing forward China-Russia pragmatic cooperation.

Medvedev accepted the invitation with pleasure.