China's Hu meets Russia's Putin, painting rosy future

BEIJING, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao on Wednesday met with visiting Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, hailing fresh development of bilateral relationship and vowing closer collaboration.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) meets with Russian Prime Minister  Vladimir Putin in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 14, 2009. (Xinhua/Liu Jiansheng)

"Russia is one of the top agenda on China's diplomacy as we pay much attention to relations with Russia," Hu told Putin in their half an hour meeting in Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.

Hu said this year was significant for China-Russia relations as both countries celebrated their 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties.

Russia was the first country to establish diplomatic relations with China, days after the People's Republic of China was founded on Oct. 1, 1949.

As an important milestone in deepening relations, both countries established strategic partnership of coordination in 1996.

Hu said this partnership had reaped substantive benefits to both peoples and worked for the world peace, stability and prosperity.