The relationship between China and Russia has reached unprecedented heights over the past decade, Chinese President Hu Jintao said in Beijing on Friday.

In a meeting with visiting State Duma Chairman Boris Gryzlov, Hu said China and Russia had established a strategic and cooperative partnership and realized the mechanism of high-level contact. The two countries have maintained close contact and cooperation in international and regional affairs.

Hu said China and Russia shoulder the common task of safeguarding peace and stability and speeding up economic development, and have more room for reciprocal cooperation.

"China values relations with Russia, and would like to upgrade the strategic and cooperative relations to a new height," Hu said.

He expressed the hope that the Chinese National People's Congress and Russian State Duma would promote good relations between the two countries.

Gryzlov said Russia is satisfied with the development of relations with China, and that the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and State Duma would like to strengthen cooperation with the NPC to promote the cooperation in economy, trade, energy resources and other fields.
 
(Xinhua News Agency June 18, 2005)