Xi reaffirmed that China will stick to peaceful development, saying that the Chinese people love peace, deeply appreciate the value of peace and also need a peaceful environment to build their nation.

He also called on other countries to adopt peaceful development.

Xi said that China's development, as outlined in the notion of the Chinese dream, will not only benefit the Chinese people, but also the people of all countries.

On China-Russia ties, Xi stressed that the two countries, as each other's biggest neighbors, have a lot in common on national development, and that the Chinese people wish Russia realize its goals at an early date.

The China-Russia relationship is the most important one in the world and also the best one between major powers, Xi said, noting that a high-level and strong China-Russia relationship is not only in the interests of both countries, but also serves as an important guarantee of international strategic balance and world peace and stability.

Xi raised a three-point proposal on developing bilateral ties under the new circumstances.

Firstly, the two countries should be firmly committed to developing a future-oriented relationship, always be each other's good neighbor, friend and partner, and support each other in protecting their core interests and dealing with its internal affairs.

Secondly, they should be firmly committed to developing a relationship of win-win cooperation by creating more converging interests and openning up more areas for cooperation to constantly push their practical cooperation to a higher level.

Thirdly, they should be firmly committed to developing friendship between the two peoples. For China and Russia, both having a long history and splendid culture, cultural and people-to-people exchanges are irreplaceable in enhancing friendship.

Speaking to the two countries' youth, Xi said the young people are the future of their countries and the world, and they are also the future of the cause of building friendship between China and Russia.

"I am looking forward to seeing more and more Chinese and Russian young people take over the task and devote themselves to the cause of developing friendship between the two peoples," he said.

In conclusion, the Chinese leader expressed the belief that China-Russia ties would enjoy sound development, better benefiting the two peoples and better promoting world peace and security.

The Moscow State Institute of International Relations, set up in 1944, was a prestigious institution that specializes in training Russian diplomats.