In the opening address, Hu said this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination and fifth anniversary of the Sino-Russian good neighborly treaty of friendship and cooperation.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing prior to holding official talks March 21, 2006. [newsphoto]

 
"The fact that President Putin is heading such a big delegation to China and will attend the opening ceremony of the Year of Russia in China demonstrates that Putin highly values the Sino-Russian relations," Hu said.

"I believe this visit, especially the hosting of the theme year in the other's country, will enhance the mutual understanding between the two peoples and advance the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination," Hu said.

Echoing Hu's remarks, Putin said the start of the Year of Russia in China, which is unprecedented in scale and involves activities in various fields, shows that the current Russia-China relations have reached "a very high level, and laid a better foundation for the future development of the Russia-China relations."

Hu and Pu also held a closed door meeting before their official talks.

Putin arrived here on Tuesday morning for a two-day state visit at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao. This is Putin's second visit to China since he was reelected Russian President in 2004.

"Moscow-Beijing relations are now at their highest point in their entire history," Sergei Prikhodko, Putin's foreign policy adviser, told the Russian news agency ITAR-Tass.

Putin was accompanied by a 90-member delegation of leaders of Russia's state-owned Rosneft oil company and Gazprom gas monopoly, as well as aircraft, telecommunications and other industries.

Earlier Tuesday, Putin and Chinese State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan attended the opening of a media center to promote an upcoming Russian cultural year in China.

On Wednesday, the Russian leader - a black belt in judo - was scheduled to visit Shaolin, the Chinese temple regarded as the birthplace of the martial art kungfu.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said the goal for both sides is to "strengthen our cooperation in various fields and step up good neighborly relations."
Qin said to boost ties, China and Russia in recent years have held joint military exercises, stepped up mutual support in territorial sovereignty and made breakthroughs in energy cooperation.

"All in all, the current stage of the China-Russia strategic partnership has reached a very high level and we have diverse and rich progress in our cooperation," Qin told reporters at a regular briefing. "We have a bright and broad future."