The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) hopes to enhance friendly exchanges with the Russian Federation Council, the upper house of parliament, Li Zhaozhuo, vice chairman of the CPPCC's National Committee, said in Moscow on Thursday.

China-Russia relations continue to maintain a sound momentum of development, Li said at a meeting with Dmitry Mezentsev, deputy chairman of the Russian Federation Council.

Leaders of the two countries have exchanged frequent visits and both sides continuously deepen cooperation in the fields of trade and economy, science and technology and humanities, he said.

Li said China and Russia have been firmly supporting each other on key issues related to national sovereignty and territorial integrity, resulting in a growing mutual political trust.

The Year of China in Russia, an event of bilateral exchanges, has yielded fruitful results in many areas, he said, adding that it will push forward the in-depth development of the relations between the two countries.

The CPPCC attaches great importance to friendly exchanges with the Russian Federation Council, which makes up a vital part of China-Russia ties, Li said.

He hopes that the two organizations will enhance exchanges and cooperation to implement agreements reached by leaders of the two countries.

For his part, Mezentsev spoke highly of Russia-China relations, saying the Russian Federation Council is ready to strengthen friendly exchanges with the CPPCC and boost the development of bilateral ties.

A CPPCC delegation led by Li arrived in Moscow Wednesday for a six-day visit to Russia, the first leg of its three-nation Europe tour, which will also take it to Finland and Sweden.

(Xinhua News Agency October 26, 2007)