On May 14, 2008, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Yekaterinburg, Russia.

China appreciates Russia for its humanitarian aid which has been sent to Chengdu, capital of the quake-hit southwest province of Sichuan, Yang said. Russia has delivered the second batch of humanitarian aid to China, as part of offers by President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Yang expressed belief that with the support from the international community, the Chinese people will certainly be able to conquer the disaster and rebuild their beautiful homeland.

"With the successful holding of the national theme year activities, the China-Russia Strategic Partnership of Cooperation has grown rapidly in an all-round manner," said Yang, adding that political trust, pragmatic cooperation and strategic coordination have reached an unprecedented high level. Yang spoke highly of the bilateral relationship, saying China is satisfied with it and appreciates Russia's position on Taiwan and Tibet.

Yang said the Chinese government will be committed to making the Beijing Olympics a sports event of unique characteristics and of high quality. Yang thanked for Russia's efforts to ensure the success of the Olympic torch relay in St. Petersburg and its support of China's preparations for the Olympics.

Yang said China deems Russia its most reliable strategic cooperative partner and to develop China-Russia relations is a priority of China's foreign policy. China is ready to make joint efforts with Russia to observe the purposes and principles in the China-Russia Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, carry forward the national theme year spirit of friendship for generations and joining hands for common development and comprehensively implement the consensus reached by both sides, so as to push China-Russia strategic cooperative partnership for sound, steady development at a high level.

Lavrov, on behalf of the government, expressed solace to China which is suffering from the devastating earthquake. He said deepening Russia-China strategic cooperative partnership is an unswerving foreign policy of the new Russian government. Russia is ready to further political mutual trust, strengthen supports on issues concerning each other's core interest, promote substantial cooperation and enhance cultural and people-to-people contact in a bid to raise the level of strategic cooperation.

Yang arrived in Yekaterinburg, the capital of Sverdlovskaya Oblast, on May 14 for a trio-meeting with his Russian and Indian counterparts, and a quartet-conference with Russian, Indian and Brazilian senior diplomats. On the same day, Yang also met with Eduard Rossel, governor of Sverdlovskaya Oblast. Both sides made positive comments on the regional exchanges, pledging to seize the opportunity of in-depth development of bilateral ties to push for all-round cooperation between localities of the two countries for the benefit of both peoples.