Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Vice President
Hu
Jintao met in Moscow on Saturday. The meeting was focusing on
bilateral relations between the two countries.
Putin told Hu he believed that the Russian-Chinese relationship has
reached a high level, according to a press release from the Chinese
delegation.
Agreeing with Putin, Hu noted that the political mutual trust
between China and Russia is deepening, economic and trade
cooperation has been developing quickly and strategic partnership
has also improved.
During his meeting with Putin, Hu spoke highly of Putin's job,
noting that Russia's political situation has become stable soon
after Putin was elected president last year, the country's economy
is recovering and Moscow is playing an increasingly-bigger role on
international stage.
He
expressed his belief that Russia will be more prosperous and more
powerful under the leadership of Putin and with the efforts of the
Russian people.
Referring to the Chinese-Russian Good Neighborly Treaty of
Friendship and Cooperation signed by Chinese President Jiang Zemin
and Putin in July, Hu said the treaty has mapped out a long-term
strategic plan for the Chinese-Russian relationship in the 21st
century and enjoys full support from both countries.
The treaty, which was ratified by the
National People's Congress of China on Saturday, will push
Sino-Russian relations forward and will help strengthen the
friendship between the two peoples, Hu added.
China is willing to implement the treaty together with Russia to
push the Sino-Russian relationship to a new level, he said.
Praising China's ratification of the treaty, Putin said that this
treaty has set the direction for the development of future
Russian-Chinese relations, adding he believed that the Russian
parliament will also ratify the treaty soon.
Expressing his satisfaction about all the aspects of the current
Russian-Chinese ties, Putin said there is still a great potential
for more cooperation in economy and trade, energy resources and
science and technology.
The Russian president stressed that his country is willing to work
together with China to make the cooperation more successful so that
the peoples in both countries will benefit from it.
Hu
Jintao arrived in Moscow earlier on Saturday on a two-day working
visit to Russia, the first leg of his five-nation tour. He will
also visit Britain, France, Spain and Germany.
(Xinhua News
Agency October 28, 2001)