From March 16th to 19th, visiting Chinese Vice Foreign Minister and special envoy Dai Bingguo held talks respectively with Russia's Security Council Secretary Igor Ivanov, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and First Deputy Foreign Minister Valery Loschinin. The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on the China-Russia relations, the Taiwan question, the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, and other issues of common concern. Dai also delivered a letter from Chinese President Hu Jintao to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Dai briefed the Russian officials on the latest developments in the situation across the Taiwan Straits and reaffirmed China's principled stance on the Taiwan issue. He noted that the Taiwan question involved China's state sovereignty, territorial integrity and national dignity. The Chinese side spoke highly of and expressed appreciation to the Russian side for its consistent strong support of China's reunification and on the Taiwan question, noting that it is an important expression of China-Russia strategic cooperative partnership. Dai also said that China believed Russia would continue to stick to this policy unswervingly.

The Russian side noted that it consistently adheres to the one-China policy and supports China defending its state sovereignty and maintaining its territorial integrity. It opposes to any form of attempt by Taiwan to seek "independence" and hold a "referendum". The Russian side stressed that the upcoming referendum is a provocative move aimed to increase tension across the Taiwan Straits and is totally erroneous. Russia persistently sticks to its stance on the Taiwan issue, which has been put into the Sino-Russian Treaty of Good-neighborly and Friendly cooperation. Russian President Vladimir Putin also reaffirmed his country's position on the Taiwan issue on March 15 in a telephone conversation with Chinese President Hu Jintao. Russia will continue to unswervingly stick to this policy in the future.

In terms of China-Russia relations, Dai said our strategic cooperative partnership is highly valuable to our two peoples. The Chinese leaders attach great importance to its relations with Russia and it is the consistent policy of the Chinese government to continuously consolidate, enrich and expand China-Russia strategic cooperative partnership. After President Putin won a second term in Russia's Presidential Election with overwhelming majority of votes, President Hu Jintao and Chairman Jiang Zemin of the Central Military Commission have expressed their warm congratulations respectively on Putin's re-election. Under the leadership of President Putin, Russia has witnessed its stable political situation, rapid economic growth, continuously improved livelihood of the people and increasing international stature. The Chinese government and people are pleased to see these achievements in Russia.

The Russian side noted that Russia-China relations are at the best period of development in history and spoke highly of the relations. The leaders of the two countries maintain close ties to each other and the two sides hold the same stance on a wide range of major international issues. The two countries have witnessed rapid development in economic and trade cooperation, more frequent exchanges in personnel and enhanced cooperation in other areas. Russia will maintain consistency in its foreign policy and continue to unswervingly develop friendly cooperation with China.

Chinese Ambassador to the Russian Federation Liu Guchao attended the above-mentioned activities.