Hu Jintao on Chinese-Russian friendship and mutual understanding

President Hu Jintao of the People's Republic of China (PRC) emphasised the importance of enhanced mutual understanding, friendship and trust between Russian and China. Hu Jintao said this in a message of greetings to the participants in a plenary session of the Russian-Chinese friendship, peace and development committee that opened here today.

According to the Chinese leader, China and Russia are good neighbours and important strategic partners, which preserve and develop long-term and stable ties of good-neighbourliness, friendship and cooperation.

Chinese and Russian leaders have reached important mutual understanding at the turn of the century as regards the need to exert joint efforts for the sake of opening up new prospects for expanded Russian-Chinese relations, to preserve friendship from generation to generation and never to become enemies, Hu Jintao reminded. With this in mind, it's extremely important that we continuously enhance mutual understanding, trust and friendship between the people of our two countries, his message reads in part.