ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov on Sunday lauded the advancement of the China-Russia bilateral partnership in the past year.

    Meeting with Fradkov on the sidelines of the funeral of Turkmenistan's late president Saparmurat Niyazov, Tang said the past year saw a continuously rapid development of the China-Russia strategic partnership of cooperation, which had already been enhanced to a high level.

    Leaders of the two countries exchanged mutual visits frequently, political trust between the two sides was deepened and the communication and coordination on international affairs remained close, he said, adding the successful holding of the Year of Russia in China has contributed to greatly enhancing bilateral exchange and cooperation.

    Tang said China was willing to exert further efforts along with Russia to promote the bilateral relationship to a new level.

    For his part, Fradkov said the Russia-China strategic partnership forged ahead smoothly in 2006 and achieved abundant fruits. Russia, satisfied with the great success of the Year of Russia in China, is actively preparing the Year of China scheduled to be held in Russia in 2007 to make sure it would be equally successful.

    Niyazov, 66, died early Thursday of a heart attack. He had been leading the energy-rich country since 1985.