BEIJING -- President Xi Jinping on Wednesday urged closer and stronger strategic coordination between China and Russia to firmly defend their legitimate interests and safeguard the unity of Global South countries.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Beijing.

Noting the stability and certainty of China-Russia relations are particularly valuable in a changing and turbulent international situation, Xi called on the two countries to shoulder their responsibilities as major countries and permanent members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council.

Asking Lavrov to convey sincere greetings to President Vladimir Putin, Xi hailed the development of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination at a high level, yielding fruitful results across various fields, adding that the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation has shown greater vitality and exemplary significance.

He urged both sides to fully implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, enhance strategic communication, strengthen diplomatic coordination, and elevate the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination to a higher level in a steadier, more sustained manner.

Xi stressed that China and Russia should maintain strategic resolve, trust and support each other, and pursue common development. It is necessary for the two sides to fully leverage the advantages of proximity and complementarity, deepen cooperation on all fronts, and enhance the resilience of their respective development, he added.

Xi also urged the two countries to strengthen multilateral cooperation, firmly uphold and practice multilateralism, join hands to revive the authority and vitality of the UN, engage in closer coordination and cooperation within the frameworks of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS countries, and promote the development of the international order in a more just and reasonable direction.

While conveying Putin's sincere greetings and best wishes to Xi, Lavrov said that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, Russia-China relations have shown a high degree of resilience amid a complex external environment, with sound momentum in trade and investment cooperation and increasingly intensive cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

He said Russia is ready to work with China to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, maintain high-level exchanges, strengthen practical cooperation, promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and safeguard international fairness and justice, to work for further progress in the development of Russia-China relations, and make greater contributions to world peace and stability.