New Year, Chinese and Russian leaders exchanged congratulatory messages

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, December 31 - President Hu Jintao and Russian President Medvedev, 31, exchanged New Year's message, and announced the official launch of Russia's "Chinese Year."

In his message, Hu said that the past year, the Sino-Russian strategic partnership of coordination at a high level rapidly. The two leaders have maintained close contacts on a range of major issues and reached broad consensus. The two sides celebrated the 60th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and promote pragmatic cooperation in various fields to a new level. China's "Russian Year" event was a complete success, setting off a new upsurge in cultural exchanges between the two countries. Between the two countries in a multilateral framework of the strategic cooperation strengthened, in order to promote regional and world peace, stability and development has made a positive contribution.

In the new year, China and Russia between the two countries will have a series of important state events to be held in China is ready to Russia to work together to further deepen the bilateral, regional and multilateral levels of dialogue and consultation and coordination in cooperation with the Russian side to run Russia's "Chinese Year" for the Sino-Russian strategic partnership of cooperation into the development of a more powerful driving force and jointly write a Sino-Russian good-neighborly friendship and comprehensive cooperation, mutual benefit and win-win and common development of a new chapter.

Medvedev said in his message, 2009, the joint efforts of both sides, Russia and China a high degree of mutual trust and further consolidate the strategic partnership of cooperation. Both sides the 60th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to further enhance political relations, economic cooperation has achieved remarkable achievements in the global and regional affairs of more effective collaboration. China's "Russian Year" to further expand the success of Russian cultural exchanges and enhance mutual understanding between the two populations. I believe Russia is about to begin "Chinese Year" will also enhance the traditional friendship between the two countries play an active role in promoting. Mutual trust between the two sides on the basis of a series of important bilateral and international issues, engage in constructive dialogue will further promote the Russia-China strategic partnership forward.