Chinese, Russian leaders exchange greetings

BEIJING - Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev on Saturday exchanged their new year greetings.

In his message, Hu said the past year saw all-around, rapid and fruitful development of China-Russia relations under the concerted efforts by both sides.

In 2011, the two countries further strengthened strategic and political mutual trust, raised the quality and expanded the quantity of trade and economic cooperation, with bilateral trade reaching record high of $80 billion, Hu said, adding that the two sides also stepped up coordination in international and regional affairs.

The achievements made in China-Russia relations not only boosted the development, progress and stability of the two countries, but also contributed to regional and international peace, security and development, he noted.

In the coming new year, China will make joint efforts with Russia, in accordance with the direction and objectives for developing relations set by the two sides for the next 10 years, to deepen cooperation and exchanges, to promote the all-round strategic cooperative partnership of equality, mutual trust, mutual support, common prosperity and long-lasting friendship, so as to better benefit the two countries and two peoples, Hu said.

"I'd like to avail myself of this opportunity to jointly announce with you the launching of 'tourism year of Russia' in China and 'tourism year of China' in Russia. I believe the successful holding of the events will further strengthen mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation between the two peoples," Hu said.

For his part, Russian President Medvedev said the all-round strategic cooperative partnership between Russia and China has been further consolidated and enriched in the past year.

He said the two countries held close political dialogue with mutual trust at various levels, conducted close and effective cooperation at the international arena, and made important achievements in economic cooperation.

Medvedev said 2012 would bring new opportunities for the Russia-China all-round strategic cooperative partnership aimed at benefiting the two peoples and maintaining stability and security of the international society.

Medvedev said he believed the "tourism year of Russia" in China and "tourism year of China" in Russia scheduled for 2012 and 2013 respectively would boost people-to-people exchanges and consolidate the friendship of the two peoples.