Xi: China to expand ties in Russia's Far East and Northeast Asia

China would like to expand cooperation in the Far East of Russia and Northeast Asia to sustain development and increase common interests, President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday.

Xi made the remarks while delivering a speech at the plenary session of the fourth Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia.

The Northeast Asian countries should boost mutual trust and safeguard regional peace and stability amid rising unilateralism and protectionism, Xi said.

Noting that the population of the six countries of Northeast Asia accounted for 23 percent of the global population and the region's GDP accounts for 19 percent of global economy, Xi said that a united and stable Northeast Asia could meet the interests of all countries in the region.

The Northeast Asian region has rich energy and resources, world-class scientific research, affluent capital and human resources, Xi said, adding that the countries in the region have the capability to make full use of their advantages and enhance cooperation in all areas.

Xi called on the Northeast Asian countries to boost connection of development strategies, saying that China and Russia have achieved an early harvest in connecting the Belt and Road Initiative with the Eurasia Economic Union.

The Northeast Asian countries should focus on boosting interconnectivity across the borders, improving free trade and investment facilitation, promoting the flow of markets, capital and technology, and jointly building an open regional economy, Xi said.