Top Chinese political advisor Jia Qinglin met Wednesday in Beijing with a delegation of the Federation Council of the Russian Federal Assembly.

Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said the China-Russia relations have undergone comprehensive, deep and rapid development over the past 10 years and the two countries have maintained close consultations and cooperation in key international and regional issues.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of China-Russia strategic partnership of cooperation and the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Sino-Russian Good Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation.

Jia recalled Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to China in March, saying that Putin's successful visit to China and the key consensus reached between Putin and Chinese President Hu Jintao on bilateral relations and international and regional issues further boosted the development of the two countries' relations.

To further consolidate the China-Russia strategic partnership of cooperation, China and Russia have agreed to host the "Year of Russia" in China this year and the "Year of China" in Russia in 2007.

Jia said such programs were pioneering undertakings in the history of bilateral ties. He said the CPPCC was an active sponsor and participant of the "Year of Russia" in China, and the CPPCC hoped to work with the Federation Council of the Russian Federal Assembly to ensure the successful operation of the programs.

Jia also expressed China's appreciation to Russia for its long-term adherence to the one-China policy.

Mikhail Margelov, head of the Russian delegation, said Russia believed that the friendly ties and close cooperation between Russia and China were important to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and the rest of the world as well.

"The relations between Russia and China have reached an unprecedented altitude...The Russian side hopes to further consolidate such ties," said Margelov, also chairman of the international affairs committee under the Russian Federal Council.

Source: Xinhua