Vladimir Putin: Present Relations Between Russia And China Reached High Level Of Interaction

As opening a Kremlin meeting with Hu Jintao, vice-chairman of the People's Republic of China, Russian President Vladimir Putin said "relations between Russia and China have reached a very high level of interaction in every sphere." According to the Russian President, bilateral relations were successfully developing in the political and economic spheres, in the area of coordination of the two countries' international efforts, as well as in the military-technological cooperation area. The Russian head of state indicated that the present meeting would provide a possibility not only to confirm the high level of interaction but also to outline certain prospective stages. The Russian president recalled that in 2001 he had had several meetings with Chinese leader Jiang Zemin. He also recollected his recent visit to Shanghai which, according to the President, "greatly impressed the Russian delegation". After saying that Jiang Zemin was satisfied with that meeting, Hu Jintao reported that the Chinese leader asked him to convey to the Russian President "his kind regards and best wishes". Hu Jintao expressed admiration with "Russia as a great country and the great Russian people" and noted cordiality and hospitality which the Chinese delegation felt immediately on stepping on the Russian soil. The Kremlin negotiations from the Russian side are attended by vice-premier Ilya Klebanov, foreign minister Igor Ivanov, deputy head of the Kremlin administration Sergei Prikhodko.