On April 21, 2004, Russian President Putin met with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing in Moscow.

Putin said that Russia-China relations have maintained active momentum of development. Leaders of the two countries are maintaining close communications and the bilateral trade turnover has being increased rapidly. The Russia-China Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation "works and does so to the full," This year is one of special significance in the history of bilateral relations between the two countries, which will celebrate the 55th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations. Putin said," I am looking forward to continuing to exchange views with Chinese leaders on bilateral and international issues of common interest and to deepen the friendly cooperation between the two countries."

Li Zhaoxing congratulated President Putin on the achievements made by Russia under his leadership. He said that a series of exchanges of visits and meetings between leaders of the two countries to take place this year will deepen the friendship between the two peoples and boost the active development of bilateral strategic partnership of cooperation between the two countries. China attaches great importance to the relations with Russia, and would like to work with the Russian side in fulfilling the consensus reached by the two heads of state and the China-Russia Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation and to further enhance exchanges and pragmatic cooperation with Russia in all fields so as to benefit the two countries and their peoples.

Putin said that Russia will firmly support China's principle on the Taiwan issue and Li thanked him for his statement.