¡¡ Premier Zhu Rongji Zhu told Russian Ambassador to China Igor A. Rogachev at a reception for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia at the Russian Embassy here this afternoon that China hopes that Sino-Russian cooperation can develop more rapidly on the basis of mutual trust and mutual benefit.

¡¡ He congratulated the establishment of diplomatic ties 50 years ago and called the celebrations a common festival for the people of China and Russia and told the ambassador that the two countries have formed a strategic and coordinative partnership with characteristics of equality and mutual-trust and that the bilateral ties have grown in a larger number of cooperative areas in recent years.

¡¡ Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan and Ambassador Rogachev delivered speeches at the reception and commended the growth of friendly and cooperative ties between the two countries.

¡¡ Senior Chinese officials present at the reception included State Councillor and Defense Minister Chi Haotian, the head of the Central Committee of the Communist Party's International Department Dai Bingguo and the director of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress Zeng Jianhui. (Xinhua)