On June 17, 2009, visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao held talks with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow. Hu emphasized that the China-Russia strategic partnership of cooperation will surely have a better future so long as the two sides seize the opportunity and join hands in deepening it.

Hu recalled the development of Sino-Russian relations in the past 60 years, especially the achievements made since the two countries set up their strategic partnership of cooperation in 1996. The two countries have formed perfect meeting and cooperation mechanisms at all levels, completely resolved the border issue left over from history and comprehensively deepen pragmatic cooperation in all areas. They have also signed the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation and jointly promoted multi-polarization of the world and democracy in international relations. "The China-Russia strategic partnership of cooperation has become a model for relationships between big countries and neighbors," Hu said.

He made a four-point summarization of the experience gained in the past 60 years of the bilateral diplomatic ties. First, only with mutual trust and sincere treatment can bilateral political relations be continuously promoted. Second, only with mutual respect, equality and reciprocity can common prosperity be realized through substantial cooperation. Third, only with mutual understanding and support, and mutual backing on issues concerning each other's core interests can the fundamental interests of each other be effectively safeguarded. Fourth, only by seeking common ground while shelving differences, and maintaining friendly consultations can the long-term, sound and steady growth of bilateral relations be guaranteed.

Hu said the bilateral partnership is at a new historical starting point, and the two countries should follow the following guiding principles to ensure better and faster development of bilateral ties in the future. First, mutual trust is the basis of bilateral ties. The bilateral partnership is a priority in China's diplomacy, and to strengthen good neighborly friendship and strategic cooperation with Russia has been, is and will remain China's firm guiding principle. Second, both sides should act in view of the general situation of the sound and steady development of bilateral relations. It is normal for China and Russia, two countries with different conditions, to have different views on some issues. When dealing with these issues, both sides should take the general situation into consideration. Third, both sides should take a long-term point of view. The two countries should carry forward the concept of peace in fostering friendship from generation to generation and never view each other with hostility, so as to lay a firm social foundation for the sound development of bilateral ties.

On the spreading international financial crisis, Hu said it was more important and imperative for the two countries to enhance substantial cooperation and promote common development. He said the two sides should strengthen cooperation in such fields as economy, trade, energy, as well as local-level cooperation. Hu suggested that the two sides should actively promote the increase of bilateral trade and expand trade in electromechanicals, telecommunications, finance and military technologies. He said the two sides should comprehensively implement the agreements between the two governments on cooperation in oil so as to lay a firm foundation for long-term, comprehensive and stable energy cooperation between the two sides. The two sides should also carry out cooperation in renewable and new energy so as to form an all-dimensional and complex energy cooperation pattern, Hu said. He said the two sides should push forward cooperation at local levels, making it a highlight and a new growth point in the bilateral partnership.

Hu said humanities exchanges between China and Russia have enjoyed a new opportunity with the 60th anniversary of establishment of bilateral ties and hosting of the reciprocal language years. In March this year, the Year of the Russian Language was opened in Beijing. Both sides should well stage celebrations of the 60th anniversary and the language-year activities, he said. Hu expressed gratitude to the Russian president for inviting Chinese children from Sichuan Province, hard hit by the disastrous earthquake in May last year, to Russian resorts for rehabilitation. China will invite about 1,000 middle school and primary students from Russia to summer camps next year.

Hu said in the midst of complex and challenging international situations, China and Russia should work closely with each other to promote multi-polarization of the world and democratization of international relations, to reform the international financial system, to initiate more dialogue and cooperation on strategic security issues and to push for proper settlements of regional hotspot issues.

Medvedev said the frequent meetings between the Russian and Chinese heads of state have yielded desirable results, indicating a strong and fine momentum of the bilateral relations and further cementing the strategic partnership of cooperation between Russia and China. Medvedev stressed the importance of mutual cooperation within the bilateral and multilateral frameworks to jointly confront the financial crisis. Russia and China are in good position to carry forward the good momentum of bilateral relations, especially after important agreements were made during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) summits, he said.

Medvedev said Russia attaches great importance to developing its relationship with China. He made several proposals for the development of bilateral relations. First, both sides should deepen political cooperation and win more support from the people for the development of the bilateral relations. Both sides should be committed to good-neighborliness and friendship. Second, both sides could work together to broaden economic and trade exchanges in fields such as energy, electromechanicals, science and technology, agriculture and telecommunications, finance and military technologies, and to expand the bilateral trade volume. Third, both sides should promote local-level cooperation and cooperation between border areas, so as to create a good environment for the life and work of the border residents. Fourth, Russia and China should also improve exchanges and coordination in multiple international meetings such as the SCO, BRIC, the Group of 20 and dialogue between the Group of 8 and developing nations, Medvedev said. Fifth, he said the two countries should also intensify cooperation in major international and regional issues, and explore new modes of cooperation to jointly tackle the global financial crisis. Both sides have maintained sound humanities cooperation, he said, emphasizing the importance of well staging the language-year activities.

After the meeting, Hu and Medvedev attended a signing ceremony of relevant cooperation documents between the two countries and jointly met the press.

Following the talks, Hu attended a grand welcoming ceremony held by Medvedev.

Ling Jihua, Wang Huning and Dai Bingguo attended the above-mentioned activities.