On March 27, 2007, Chinese President Hu Jintao met with Russian State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov in Moscow.
Hu said currently the development of Sino-Russian relations enjoys a sound momentum with growing political trust, fruitful pragmatic cooperation and close strategic coordination in international affairs. The Sino-Russian ties that are established at a high level not only bring benefits to both peoples, but also make contributions to peace and development of this region, said Hu.
The Sino-Russian strategic partnership of cooperation has entered the second decade since its establishment, which will be an important period for the two nations' development and prosperity, Hu said. He noted that strengthening good-neighborly friendship and strategic cooperation fully conforms to the common interests of both countries and their peoples, and is also a necessary requirement for world peace and development. It is of great realistic significance and far-reaching historic significance to consolidate and develop the Sino-Russian strategic partnership of cooperation. China is willing to upgrade its relations with Russia to a higher level, said Hu.
Gryzlov noted that the Russian-Sino strategic partnership of cooperation has withstood the test of time and reached an unprecedented high level. The two countries have shown mutual understanding and share broad consensus in international affairs, he said, adding that both sides have common aspiration for developing exchanges and cooperation in economy, trade, humanities, science, technology, and public health. Last year the "Year of Russia" was successfully held in China. The opening ceremony of the ongoing "Year of China" in Russia is equally a great success with the Chinese national exhibition being very impressive. The events of reciprocal theme years have demonstrated the high level of the two nations' strategic partnership, he added.
Hu emphasized that the cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries plays an important role in pushing for the Sino-Russian strategic partnership of cooperation. Hu suggested the two legislatures continue efforts in the following three aspects to serve the overall development of bilateral ties. First, Hu called on the two parliaments to consolidate the social basis of bilateral friendship, create an atmosphere conducive to Sino-Russian friendship in the legislatures, political parties and the whole societies of the two countries and form a large force upgrading the development of Sino-Russian ties. Second, Hu proposed that the cooperation committee, special committees of parliaments and parliamentary friendship groups should be given full play and should offer more constructive advice on developing the Sino-Russia relations, so as to push for new breakthroughs in bilateral practical cooperation in various areas. Third, the two parliaments should expand cooperation in the legislative area, strengthen experience exchanges, and perform a supervisory function to ensure smooth implementation of all agreements and consensus between the two countries.
The Russian speaker said that it is the consensus reached among all parties of the Russian State Duma to develop ties with China. Hailing the fruitful cooperation between the Russian State Duma and the National People's Congress (NPC) of China, Gryzlov pledged the State Duma will work closely with the NPC to well hold the second meeting of the cooperation committee, to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between special committees, and to share each other's experience of social and economic development, so as to provide legal support and guarantee for bilateral trade and economic cooperation and contribute to all-round development of bilateral ties.
Vice Premier Wu Yi attended the meeting.