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Hu Jintao begins Russia visit 

cctv.com 07-01-2005 08:59

Chinese President Hu Jintao is on a four-day visit to Russia, to further enhance mutual political trust, expand economic and trade cooperation, and strengthen strategic coordination between the two countries. Hu has already met his Russia counterpart Vladimir Putin, as well as Sergei Mironov, chairman of the Federation Council of Russia.

This is Chinese President's second meeting with the Russian President within a month. At an evening dinner given by Vladimir Putin, Hu Jintao said the Sino-Russian strategic partnership serves the interests of the two peoples.

He added that both countries have also been carrying out successful cooperation in international affairs.


Putin said he was very happy to welcome Hu to Moscow again, saying Russia highly values its strategic partnership with China, and bilateral cooperation in the political and economic sectors has seen great progress.

Putin said the two countries will hold their first military exercises this year; adding Hu's ongoing visit would forcefully push forward Russia-China relations.


Hu Jintao speaks to Mironov, chairman of the Federation Council of Russia.

In a meeting with Sergei Mironov, chairman of the Federation Council of Russia, Hu said strengthening the Sino-Russian strategic coordination is conducive to both sides in facing up to new threats and challenges, and to safeguarding common interests. Mironov said the two countries should continue to deepen their mutually beneficial cooperation in the trade sector, improve trade structures, expand mutual investment and promote cooperation on big projects. He stated the two sides should also further expand and deepen humanitarian cooperation, enhance media exchanges, and foster friendly ties among young people.

Hu hoped leaders of the two countries' parliaments and various special committees would maintain contact, increase mutual understanding, and give full play to their lawmakers' role in enhancing the state-to-state ties, especially in laying down a solid legal foundation for bilateral cooperation.

Hu also said both sides should undertake multilateral and multi-channel exchanges for mutually beneficial cooperation, so as to contribute more to Sino-Russian relations.

In in-depth discussions with Mironov on regional cooperation, Hu said neighboring regions linking the two nations have cherished fast development in cooperation, in which 67 pairs of friendly cities, provinces and regions have been established and nine pairs have forged trade ties.

As China is in full swing with plans to develop its west regions and invigorate the industrial bases in the northeast, Miranov said the Russian side is also putting forward proposals to open up its far east and the Siberian region.

Hu Jintao said both sides should coordinate their regional development strategy, take full advantage of each other's strong points and undertake mutually beneficial cooperation, in a bid to realize common development.


Mironov, chairman of the Federation Council of Russia

Mironov said Hu's ongoing visit would serve to play an important role in promoting bilateral friendly cooperation, strengthening mutual coordination in international affairs and safeguarding world peace.

Mironov fully agreed with Hu's proposals on further tightening exchanges and cooperation between the legislative bodies and regions of the two nations, saying he thought there were prospects for economic and trade cooperation among regions of the two nations.

He stressed his council would make more contributions to the overall development of Sino-Russian relations.

The Chinese president will next visit Kazakhstan, the second leg of his three-nation tour, which will also take him to Britain where he will attend the G-8 plus five summit.

Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin are expected to attend a signing ceremony later today, to activate a number of bilateral trade and economic agreements. They've planned a joint news conference afterwards.

Editor:Chen  Source:CCTV.com


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