Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called the current Russian-Chinese relations the best in history.

The minister clarified that relations between Russia and China “represent a model of interstate cooperation in the 21st century,” Lavrov said during a speech at the international conference “Russia and China: towards a new quality of bilateral relations,” TASS reports .

The minister noted that relations do not involve “hushing up” unresolved issues, but “an honest, comradely exchange of views.” According to Lavrov, a strong legal framework has been created, covering almost all areas of interaction.

Lavrov also said that Russia and China intend to reach trade turnover of $200 billion by 2020. According to the minister, “this goal is quite achievable.”

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Sergei Lavrov in March 2016. The ministers discussed agreement the implementation of the ceasefire in Syria and North Korea's nuclear tests. After the meeting, Wang Yi also spoke about the prospects for cooperation between China and Russia.

The next day, Russian President Vladimir Putin informed Wang Yi of his plans to visit China this summer. Putin expressed hope for a detailed, friendly conversation with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. “Our strategic partnership is gaining momentum,” Putin said then.

The last time Putin visited China was in the fall of 2015. Then he came to the parade marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and met with the leadership of the republic. As a result of Putin's visit to China, the parties signed 27 documents, 16 of which are related to joint projects of Russian and Chinese businesses.

Lavrov called relations between Russia and China a model of interaction in the 21st century