by Xinhua writers Liao Bingqing, Shi Hao

MOSCOW, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- Four months after a landmark upgrade of China-Russia relations, the two countries are celebrating on Wednesday the 70th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic ties.

The relationship between the two major countries is now at an all-time high, standing at a new starting point with prospects of broader bilateral cooperation and greater contributions to global peace and prosperity.

When Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Russia in June, he and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, agreed to lift bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era.

In September, the Chinese and Russian heads of government met in St. Petersburg and signed multiple cooperation documents covering a wide range of areas, including trade and economy, investment, agriculture, people-to-people exchanges, energy, communication, aerospace as well as science and technology.

The fresh momentum sprang from increasingly fruitful exchanges and cooperation between the two giant neighbors and close partners.

Bilateral trade surged from under 39 billion U.S. dollars in 2009 to a record 107 billion dollars in 2018, making China the largest trading partner of Russia for nine consecutive years. The two countries have pledged to double the volume to 200 billion dollars by 2024.

Meanwhile, China and Russia are fostering new areas of growth and implementing major projects of strategic significance. Cooperation is booming in cross-border business, e-commerce, technological innovation and other fields.

Cultural and people-to-people exchanges have also been flourishing. The two countries have become each other's major tourist source and destination, and each is hosting a rapidly increasing number of students from the other.

Thriving cooperation on all dimensions and at all levels has laid a solid foundation for and given a powerful impetus to the development of bilateral ties.

The deepening China-Russia strategic partnership, which features non-alliance, non-confrontation and not targeting any third party, has also transcended the bilateral scope and serves as an ever stronger positive force for promoting peace and prosperity in the region and across the world.

Since 2015, the two countries have been trying to maximize the synergy between the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union, which has yielded tangible benefits to all participating countries by boosting economic development and improving people's livelihood.

Meanwhile, the two countries have been working closely to settle major global issues in accordance with international law, so as to safeguard world peace and stability.

Against the backdrop of rising protectionism and unilateralism, China and Russia have also been steadfastly upholding multilateralism and defending international norms.

At the heart of their close collaboration and strong support for each other is a shared commitment to not only pursuing common development, but also establishing a fairer and more just international political and economic order.

Standing at the new starting point, China and Russia are set to embark on a new journey in the development of their partnership and inject more positive energy into the world.