President Hu Jintao said yesterday that his four-day state visit to Russia will contribute to the development of friendly cooperation between China and Russia.
In a written statement issued upon his arrival in Moscow, Hu said the China-Russia strategic partnership has maintained strong momentum in recent years and made satisfactory achievements.
During his stay in Moscow, Hu will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss a wide range of cooperative efforts. He will also hold talks with leaders of the Russian government and parliament.
China will work with Russia to deepen political trust, expand mutually beneficial cooperation and strengthen strategic coordination, Hu said.
In recent years, Sino-Russian relations have entered a new stage of development, featuring mutual trust in political matters, economic cooperation and cultural exchanges. In 2001, the two countries signed the Sino-Russian Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, which serves as the legal foundation for current relations.
Last year, trade between the two countries reached a record high of US$21.2 billion, a 34.7 percent increase over 2003.
In the past five months, China reported US$10 billion in trade with Russia, up 30 percent over the same period last year.
Next week, Hu is scheduled to attend a meeting with the Group of Eight in Britain, where analysts expect he and other leaders will seek more benefits for developing countries.
The summit between the G8 and China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Mexico will focus on the world economy, Africa and global climate change.