On March 15, 2004, Chinese President Hu Jintao sent a message of congratulations to Putin on his re-election as Russia's president. The message reads as follows:

On the occasion of your re-election as president of the Russian Federation, I would like to extend my most sincere congratulations and best wishes to you.

In recent years, the strategic partnership of cooperation between China and Russia has witnessed intensive development, mutual political trust between the two countries has been increasingly enhanced, and achievements in mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields quite fruitful. All these have brought about tangible benefits to people of the two countries and played an important role in safeguarding and promoting regional and world peace, stability and development. To continuously cement and develop the strategic partnership of cooperation between China and Russia is an unswerving policy of the Chinese government. China stands ready to make joint efforts with Russia to bring this partnership to a new high in the direction set out in the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation Between the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation.

May you achieve more in your new tenure. May the Russian Federation enjoy prosperity and the Russian people well being.