Chinese President Hu Jintao has expressed his hope that China and Russia will actively promote bilateral cooperation in big projects covering economy, trade, energy, investment and technology to achieve quick results.

Hu made the remarks Tuesday afternoon at a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Viktorovich Lavrov who is now in Beijing on an official visit.

Hu said there is good momentum for further growth in Sino-Russian relations.

He recalled Russian President Vladimir Putin's successful visit to China in March this year, saying that it helped raise the bilateral strategic and cooperative partnership to a new level.

Hu said that government departments of both countries will carry forward the important consensus reached by the two countries through the hosting the "Year of Russia" in China this year and the "Year of China" in Russia next year.

He added that he hoped the two countries will maintain strong cooperation in international and regional multi-lateral affairs, work with other member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) for the success of that group's summit scheduled for mid-June in order to make new contributions to promoting stability and development and regional and world peace.

Lavrov said the Russians will work with the Chinese to implement the consensus reached between the leaders of the two countries, actively advance bilateral exchanges and cooperation in  a wide range of fields, make preparations for the "Year of China" in Russia, maintain close consultations and coordination on major international and regional issues and strengthen cooperation within the SCO framework.

Russia will cooperate with the Chinese to contribute to the success of the SCO summit, he added.

Lavrov attended a regular meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the SCO member countries - China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan - in Shanghai on Monday.

The SCO was established on June 15, 2001 and in 2004 and 2005 it accepted Mongolia, Iran, Pakistan and India as observers.

(Xinhua News Agency May 17, 2006)