Editor's note: President Xi Jinping held talks on Monday with foreign leaders who were invited to the first China International Import Expo in Shanghai. The six-day event opened on Monday.

China and Russia should continue to deepen cooperation in areas including energy, agriculture, finance, science and innovation, President Xi Jinping said while meeting with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

Xi noted that both China and Russia are at critical stages of national development and rejuvenation. Faced with an unprecedented and complicated international environment, it is even more important to maintain high-level Sino-Russian relations and consolidate bilateral strategic coordination.

The priority in the next stage is to implement the consensus reached between the leaders of the two countries, he said, adding that the two nations should also expand exchanges at local levels as well as people-to-people contacts.

China and Russia follow a path of peaceful development, and the two countries are both dedicated to safeguarding international equality and justice, he said.

Under the new circumstances, China stands ready to maintain close high-level exchanges and will continue deepening strategic coordination, he said.

Medvedev said that China-Russia ties are at a historic high, and relations are still moving forward.

Russia is willing to expand pragmatic cooperation with China and to conduct closer coordination on international affairs, safeguard global rules, and promote world peace and stability, he said.

The two nations should take the opportunity of commemorating the 70th anniversary of bilateral ties next year and push forward the comprehensive strategic partnership, he added.