China attaches great importance to its relationship with Russia and considers it one of its foreign policy priorities, Li Hui, the new Chinese ambassador to Russia, said Tuesday.

Li, who arrived in Moscow on Aug. 28, spoke during a meeting with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Li also conveyed Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi's greetings to Lavrov during their meeting.

The China-Russia strategic partnership of cooperation is developing vigorously and is in its best period in history, Li said.

He noted that such a relationship plays a significant role in facilitating the domestic development of both countries and safeguarding world peace and stability.

Li, a veteran diplomat, said he is willing to work with the Russian side to continuously develop their bilateral relations.

Lavrov, in his turn, sent his best wishes to the Chinese foreign minister and congratulated Li on his arrival in Moscow.

Russia and China have maintained frequent high-level exchanges and their mutual political trust has deepened in recent years, Lavrov said.

The two countries firmly support each other on issues concerning core interests such as sovereignty and territorial integrity, and their coordination on international affairs is increasingly enhanced, Lavrov added.

Russia will continue to raise the Russia-China strategic partnership of cooperation to a higher level and its Foreign Ministry will fully support the Chinese embassy in Russia in its work, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 9, 2009)