On April 5, 2012, Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun held the consultations between the Chinese and Russian foreign ministries in Shanghai with Andrey Denisov, First Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia on foreign policy and the overall international situation.

Zhang said that China and Russia are important strategic partners. Since the beginning of this year, the China-Russia relations have shown a more positive momentum of development with the joint efforts of both sides. President Hu Jintao held a bilateral meeting with President Dmitriy Medvedev during the BRICS summit and conducted telephone conversation with President-elect Vladimir Putin. The two sides reached new consensus on further implementing the development plan of China-Russia relations over the next 10 years and expanding the all-round cooperation, injecting new vigor into the development of China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership. We should actively implement the important consensus on cooperation and agreements reached by leaders of the two countries, further strengthen mutual support, comprehensively deepen pragmatic cooperation and strategic collaboration and raise the bilateral relations to a higher level.

Denisov expressed full agreement upon Zhang's views about the bilateral relations and expectation to continue to make joint efforts with China to promote the sustained, healthy and stable development of the bilateral all-round strategic partnership.

The two sides exchanged in-depth opinions on the preparations for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit, the current international situation and major regional and international issues. They are willing to step up coordination and cooperation in international affairs and make positive contributions to maintaining regional and world peace and stability.

Following the consultations, the two sides signed the 2012 consultation plan of the Chinese and Russian foreign ministries.