Chinese President Hu Jintao met with his Russian counterpart
Vladimir Putin on Friday to discuss ways of building closer ties
between the two countries.
In March, China and Russia agreed on the guidelines and
directions for the development of their strategic partnership in
the next decade and both sides are working hard on the plans, Hu
told Putin at their meeting in Heiligendamm, Germany, where the
Chinese president arrived earlier for an outreach session with
leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) industrialized nations.
The two countries are discussing establishing a business chamber
on machinery and electronics to boost trade in this area and China
will work with Russia in drawing up an overall plan for investment
cooperation, Hu said.
China encourages Chinese companies to invest in Russia in such
industries as infrastructure, processing, manufacturing, high
technology, timber and energy, he said, adding China will work to
promote cooperation with Russia in revitalizing the old industrial
bases in northeastern China and developing Russia's far eastern and
Siberian regions.
Putin, for his part, said the Russian leadership values
relations with China and stands ready to work with the Chinese side
to boost bilateral ties.
The Russian president hailed the ongoing Year of China in
Russia, an event of bilateral exchanges, saying the event is
proceeding smoothly and has been well received.
Both leaders also praised media exchanges between the two
countries, saying they serve to deepen the understanding and
friendship between the two peoples.
The two presidents discussed the upcoming summit of the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Kyrgyzstan, pledging concerted
efforts with other SCO member states to make the meeting a
success.
(Xinhua News Agency June 9, 2007)
