China underlines commitment to stronger ties with Russia

BEIJING, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday pledged to work with Russia to lift the bilateral relationship to a new high.

Chinese President Hu Jintao said, "China would like to work with Russia to implement the next ten-year development program and key areas of cooperation and maintain the continued development of both overall and military relations."

In a meeting with visiting Russian defense chief Sergei Shoigu, Hu called on the two countries to boost their comprehensive and strategic relationship of coordination to a new high.

Hu recalled the China-Russia relations in the past decade, saying the development was "unprecedented."

The two countries established a set of mechanisms on high-level visits and cooperation among various departments, Hu said, highlighting significant progress in cooperation covering trade and economy, energy, science and technology, among others.

The two countries have supported each other on sovereignty, security, territorial integrity and other issues of core interest and maintained close coordination on international and regional issues, Hu said.

Hu said the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) charted a blueprint for building China's well-off society, which also offered new opportunities for the two countries' comprehensive and strategic coordination.

"China has always valued its ties with Russia. No matter how the international situation and domestic conditions of the two countries change, China will not alter its principles and guidelines on developing ties with Russia," Hu said.

Shoigu thanked Hu for meeting with him and congratulated China on making the 18th CPC National Congress a success.

Shoigu said the Russia-China relationship has reached a historic best thanks to the leaderships of the two countries.

Such a relationship has worked toward the common interests of the two countries, benefited the two peoples and contributed to the peace and stability of both the region and the world, Shoigu said.

Russia would like to strengthen the two militaries' mutual trust, deepen military cooperation and bring military relations to a new high, Shoigu said.

This is Shoigu's first visit to China since he assumed office as Russian defense chief earlier in November.