Chinese president meets Russian defence minister

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) meets with visiting Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Dec. 13, 2004.

Sino-Russian strategic coordination has attained an unprecedentedly high level, said President Hu Jintao Monday during his meeting with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov.

Hu, also chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, said bilateral relations between China and Russia had entered a new phase of overall growth, since the two nations forged strategic partnership of coordination.

Cooperation in various sectors has been practical, in-depth and fruitful, he said, adding that growth of relations between the two armies have maintained good momentum.

China and Russia now face the same task of maintaining peace and stability and promoting common development, and it is in the fundamental interests of the people of every nation in the region to further deepen Sino-Russian bilateral strategic coordination, to tighten coordination and cooperation between the two countries and their armies within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and to join hands in combating terrorism and other evil forces, Hu said.

Hu expressed the hope for both sides to work to implement a series of bilateral cooperation documents, including the implementation program for the Sino-Russian Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, to keep pushing forward bilateral strategic partnership of coordination, so as to contribute to peace, stability and development in the region and the world as a whole.

Satisfied with the growth of Russia-China ties, Ivanov said Russia is "fully confident" of its future development.

Under the direct guidance of the top leaders of the two nations, he said, the two sides have worked to sign a cooperation treaty and ratified its implementation program, and sign the Supplementary Agreement on the Eastern Section of China-Russia Boundary Line, completing the delimitation of boundary line between the two countries, which has served to further enhance bilateral strategic partnership of coordination.

Relations between the two armies are an important part of the partnership, he acknowledged, adding that Russia is willing to work with China to promote this relationship and to maintain peace and stability in the region and the world at large.

China, Russia to conduct first joint military drill

Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan and his Russian counterpart Sergei Ivanov agreed in their talks that the joint military exercise will be an important event, and its significance and impact will be far-reaching in the relations between the two nations and the two armies.

Prior to the talks, Ivanov met with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission Guo Boxiong. Hu is also chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China.

Ivanov is here as guest of Cao Gangchuan, who is also vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and state councilor.