Thaindian News

Beijing, Oct 12 (IANS) President Hu Jintao and top legislator Wu Bangguo met Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin Wednesday in Beijing to exchange views on bilateral cooperation and strategic partnership between China and Russia.

Hu Jintao welcomed Putin’s visit, calling the Russian prime minister “an old friend of the Chinese people”, Xinhua reported.

Hu categorised the 16th regular meeting between the two countries’ prime ministers that Putin co-chaired with Premier Wen Jiabao on Tuesday as pragmatic and productive.

“I believe your visit will further promote the development of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation,” Hu said.

Hu urged deepening mutual political and strategic trust and expanding communication and cooperation at the moment of the 10th anniversary of the signing of China- Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation.

Echoing Hu’s views, Putin said the Sino-Russian relations developed very smoothly.

Putin hailed the rapid growth of bilateral relations, noting that Hu’s visit to Russia in June injected new momentum for the two nations to foster ties.

Putin told Hu that he reviewed the current cooperation between the two countries in various fields with Premier Wen during the regular meeting on Tuesday, and the two sides also proposed plans for future cooperation.

“Prior to the regular meeting, business representatives from our two nations had signed a series of cooperative agreements with a value of over 7 billion US dollars,” Putin added.