WUHAN - Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi and Mikhail Babich, a Russian presidential representative, on Tuesday co-chaired a forum on the cooperation of regions along the Yangtze and Volga rivers.

The meeting at the central Chinese city of Wuhan was attended by local leaders from the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River in China and the Volga Federal District of Russia.

Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi (R) shakes hands with Mikhail Babich, Russia's Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Volga Federal District, after a forum attended by local leaders from the middle and upper reaches of China's Yangtze River and Russia's Volga Federal District in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, May 14, 2013. Yang and Babich co-chaired the forum here on Tuesday. [Photo/Xinhua]

Yang said that initiating cooperation between the two non-adjoining regions would be a pioneering move and would fulfill the consensus of the Chinese and Russian leaders to expand local cooperation.

The two regions should take this as an opportunity to enhance communication and work on a series of projects to accelerate social and economic development on both sides, he added.

Mikhail Babich, Russia's Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Volga Federal District, said Russia is willing to work together with China to strengthen collaboration between the two regions in trade, investment, technology, innovation and issues involving the people.

Babich is visiting China to launch a cooperation project between the district and the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River.