Chinese President Hu Jintao Friday called for greater efforts to strengthen the strategic partnership and economic and trade ties between China and Russia.

In a meeting with Boris Gryzlov, chairman of Russia's State Duma, Hu said that, faced with complicated and changing international situations, China and Russia should work together to deepen mutual political trust, boost mutually beneficial cooperation and strengthen coordination in international and regional affairs.

Hu arrived in Moscow Thursday for a four-day visit to Russia.

Gryzlov, who met Hu last month when visiting China as head of a State Duma delegation, said bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Russia and China have been fruitful.

The State Duma has been actively advocating stronger Russia- China ties and greater exchanges and cooperation between the two countries' legislatures to fulfill the goals set by the two governments in boosting trade and investment ties, Gryzlov said.

Hu said exchanges between the two countries' legislatures are an important part of bilateral strategic partnership, which have worked effectively in promoting bilateral relations.

The cooperative mechanism established between the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, and the Russian State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, has created favorable conditions for furthering bilateral cooperation, Hu said.

The two countries' legislatures can do a lot more in promoting cooperation between China and Russia, which has been developing in a wide range of areas, Hu said.

The two legislatures have a greater role to play in ratifying bilateral legal documents and overseeing their implementation, he said.

They can also push for actions to carry out the agreements on bilateral cooperation, boost mutually beneficial regional cooperation and deepen friendship between the two peoples, the Chinese president said.

Gryzlov said he agreed with Hu on his proposals and stressed that all lawmakers in the State Duma firmly support the one China policy and the cause of China's national reunification.

Source: Xinhua