On July 3, 2005, Chinese President Hu Jintao, who was paying a visit Novosibirsk, held talks with the leaders in the Siberian Federal District. Hu pointed out that at present the regional cooperation between China and Russia is facing unprecedented historical opportunities. China-Russia regional cooperation enjoys great potentials and bright prospects. Both sides should grasp opportunities to make greater efforts for the continuous development of China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination and for more practical achievements in the regional cooperation between the two countries.

At 10:40 a.m., Hu Jintao arrived at the Reception Palace of the government of the Novosibirsk region and was warmly welcomed by Anatoly Kvashnin, Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation to the Siberian Federal District, Viktor Tolokonsky, Governor of the Novosibirsk Region and other regional leaders. During the nearly 2-hour talks, Hu Jintao and over 30 regional leaders of both China and Russia held free discussions on regional economic and trade cooperation between China and Russia. Russia's regional leaders present at the meeting expressed their strong wishes to further develop the regional cooperation between China and Russia and put forward many suggestions and recommendations on cooperation.

Hu Jintao listened attentively to the remarks made by the participants. He noted," Strengthening the regional cooperation is an important subject during my meeting with President Putin. We both agree that the regional cooperation is an important part of China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination. Strengthening the regional cooperation is conducive to consolidating China-Russia relationship, enriching the content of mutually beneficial cooperation and expanding the space for bilateral cooperation."

Hu Jintao stressed that the Chinese government is working actively to promote the regional cooperation in multiple fields between China and Russia and encourages more personnel exchanges. The goal is to give full play to each other's advantages, benefit each other, enhance mutual understanding and friendship and realize common development and prosperity. The Chinese side sincerely hopes that strengthening the regional cooperation between China and Russia will benefit the two peoples and promote the continuous development of China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination. To further expand the regional cooperation between China and Russia, Hu put forward the following 4 suggestions:

First, to give full play to each other's advantages and realize common development. We must stick to the principle of mutual benefit and interest to carry out cooperation of various forms in the fields of trade, investment, technology and labor, create conditions to facilitate the cooperation in the fields of capital, human talents, and transportation and promote the rapid economic development of the two countries.

Secondly, to strengthen exchanges and communications and improve the cooperation efficiency. We should make better use of the governors' regular meeting mechanism and other cooperation platforms to give play to the roles of China-Russian investment promotion meetings and trade fairs, strengthen exchanges of information and create conditions for enterprises of both countries to have direct contacts and exchanges.

Third, to expand cooperation areas and advance cooperation levels. We should strive to promote the shift from single trade to the integration of trades, manufacturing and investment, encourage and support large-scale scientific and technical projects, and particularly strengthen the cooperation in the fields of products deep processing, transportation and infrastructure development. In line with the specific realities of different states and provinces, we should make substantial efforts to make one or two representative projects successful and promote the overall cooperation through these specific cooperation projects.

Fourth, to expand open markets and standardize trade order. We should optimize the investment environment, actively support the entrance of goods, services and capital into each other's local market and create good conditions for the investment and corporate operation. We should give full play to the role of the existing consultation and cooperation mechanisms between China and Russia, properly resolve problems that occurred in the cooperation through friendly consultations, and take substantial measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of the enterprises and peoples of the two countries.

Hu Jintao believed that the sound political relations between China and Russia create favorable conditions to expand the regional cooperation between the two sides. The leaders of the two countries prioritize, encourage and support the regional cooperation. Both China and Russia have witnessed rapid and sustained economic growth. The market sizes of both countries are expanding. Therefore, there is a large space for the cooperation between the two countries. China is implementing the strategy of developing the country's western region and rejuvenating the country's old industrial bases in northeastern region. Russian has formulated the strategy of developing the Far East region and Siberia. All these have brought new opportunities for and injected new vitalities into the strengthened regional cooperation between the two countries.

Kvashnin said that the Siberian Federal District is actively carrying out friendly cooperation with related regions in the northwestern and northeastern part of China and has formed comprehensive and pragmatic cooperative relations with these regions. In 2004, the trade volume between the Siberian Federal District and China increased by 50%. This year, such momentum keeps growing. The regional cooperation between the two sides enjoys great potentials. Today, the leaders of the Siberian Federal District are all here to attend the talks, indicating that both sides have strong aspirations to propel China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination and develop the regional cooperation between China and Russia. Today's talks will open up a wider vista for the further expansion of regional cooperation between our two sides.

Prostyakov Igor Ignatyevich, Deputy Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation to the Siberian Federal District expressed that the Federal District is willing to make active efforts to raise the trade volume with China to USD 10-12 billion in 3 or 4 years' time. The regional cooperation areas include metallurgy, energy, machinery, biology, information, agriculture, science, technology and other areas.

Mikhail Margelov, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council and Kemerovo Governor Aman Tuleyev, and leaders of the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region and Heilongjiang Province put forward specific suggestions on strengthening the regional cooperation between China and Russia.

Following the talks, President Hu attended the signing ceremony of the Cooperation Agreement on Further Developing and Strengthening the Cooperation in Economy, Trade, Science and Technology between China's Heilongjiang Province and Russia's Siberian Federal District. Then Hu Jintao attended the welcoming lunch hosted by Governor Viktor Tolokonsky

It is reported that last year, the trade volume between the neighboring regions of Siberian Federal District and related provinces of China reached USD 3.9 billion, up 56.5% over last year and representing 18% of the total trade volume between China and Russia. The trade volume of the Siberian Federal District with China accounted for 17.5% of the total trade volume of the Siberian Federal District. China is the largest trading partner of the Siberian Federal District

On the morning of July 3, 2005, Hu Jintao also visited Chkalov Aircraft Association State Unitary Enterprise

Hu Jintao left Moscow for Novosibirsk by his special plane on the afternoon of July 2. Russian senior officials came to the airport to see Hu Jintao off when Hu left Moscow.