On the afternoon of May 30, 2006, Chairman Wu Bangguo of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) of China, who was on his official goodwill visit to Russia and to attend the first meeting of the parliament speakers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries, met in the Kremlin Palace with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and both sides exchanged in-depth views on bilateral relations as well as international and regional issues of common interest in a cordial and friendly atmosphere.

Wu first conveyed the cordial greetings from President Hu Jintao to President Putin. He said that it has been two years since his previous trip to Russia and he was delighted to visit this country once again. He was pleased to witness Russia's rapid economic growth under the leadership of President Putin, gratifying changes in the urban and rural areas, obvious improvement of people's livelihood, social stability and unity, and steadily enhanced international status. It is believed that Russian people will achieve greater progress along the path to development chosen by themselves according to their national conditions.

Wu said that both countries are the largest neighbors of each other and since the establishment of strategic cooperative partnership and the signing of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, bilateral relations have witnessed all-round, in-depth and rapid development with mutually beneficial cooperation continuously deepened and humanities exchanges increasingly expanded, and both sides have maintained closer strategic cooperation. Both sides have shown mutual understanding and staunch support on major issues involving sovereignty and territory and maintained sound consultations and cooperation in international and regional affairs. This year is an important one in the development process of bilateral relations. President Putin paid a successful visit to China and made a long-term plan with President Hu on development of bilateral relations. The activities of "Year of Russia" held in China have achieved remarkable effects and the heads of state of the two countries will also hold meetings on the SCO summit and other multilateral occasions. China would like to work with Russia to continue strengthening mutual political trust from a strategic and overall perspective, focus on pragmatic cooperation in the areas of economy & trade, investment, energy, science & technology and humanities, and push for in-depth development of bilateral strategic cooperative partnership.

Putin asked Wu to convey his best wishes for President Hu and expected to meet with President Hu once again during the SCO summit to be held this June. He said that Russia makes highly positive comments on China's enormous achievements in reform, opening up and modernization drive. China's accelerated development offers opportunities for deepened bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas. With the joint efforts of both sides, bilateral relations have reached an unprecedented high. Russia attaches great importance to the activities of "Year of Russia" and "Year of China", holding that this is an important measure for pushing for progress of bilateral relations. To build up mutual political trust, expand economic and trade cooperation, and strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs conforms to aspiration and interest of both countries and their people and is conducive to safeguarding regional and world peace and stability.

Putin noted that the first meeting of the parliament speakers of the SCO member countries is a great event in the development process of this organization. To strengthen parliamentary cooperation among the SCO member countries and coordinate related activities of their legislatures can offer stauncher legal guarantee for development and cooperation of the organization and promote regional peace, stability and development.

Vice Chairman Raidi of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress attended the meeting.