Special Report: Premier Wen visits Russia, Kazakhstan, attends SCO meeting

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (R) meets with visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Moscow, capital of Russia, Oct. 28, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    MOSCOW, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev met with visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao here on Tuesday.

    The China-Russia strategic partnership of cooperation, following a 12-year development, has forged a firm mutual trust, completed mechanism for cooperation and yielded in rich strategic content and a steady and sound development, Wen said.

    China and Russia showed mutual understanding and support on major issues, enhanced cooperation in various fields and held successfully the Russian and Chinese national theme years activities, which have established a solid basis for friendship from generation to generation, he noted.

    Wen appreciated Russia's support and assistance in the wake of a major earthquake in southwest China in May, saying it indicated the high level of the China-Russia strategic partnership of cooperation.

    Wen suggested that the two countries strengthen pragmatic cooperation and strategic coordination, jointly cope with challenges against the background of a dramatically changing world political situation and the spreading global financial crisis.

    He also proposed that the two nations, through their strategic cooperation, promote democracy in international relations, reflect the common aspiration of the world community and the common interests of the world people, jointly contribute to the establishment of a reliable, steady and fair world economic and financial order, and preserve the development interests of both Russia and China.

    Wen suggested that Russia and China maintain close contact and coordination on major world and regional affairs so as to preserve the two countries' security, safeguard world peace and stability, and boost cultural exchange and cooperation.

    China will work along with Russia to implement the important consensus reached by heads of state of the two countries and strengthen the regular meeting mechanism of the two prime ministers in a bid to promote bilateral cooperation in an all-round manner, he said.

    Medvedev hailed the sound development of the Russia-China strategic partnership of cooperation, the frequent exchange of visits of the two leaderships and the fruitful cooperation.

    Russia and China trust each other and could settle any problems through negotiations, said the Russian president.

    Medvedev spoke highly of the regular meeting between Wen and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, saying it marked a significant step forward in bilateral pragmatic cooperation.

    Russia will further boost exchange and cooperation with China in such fields as trade and economy, energy, science and technology, culture, Medvedev said. The two countries could strengthen coordination on major world issues and jointly cope with and prevent various challenges such as the global financial crisis, he added.

    Medvedev said Russia is willing to offer further assistance to the quake-hit southwest China.

    Russia is the first leg of Wen's two-nation tour which will also take him to Kazakhstan.

    He is scheduled to attend the 7th prime ministers' meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization member countries in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.