Jiang said that he and Putin held a successful meeting in July this year in Beijing and signed the Beijing Declaration, adding that it has laid a foundation for further consolidation and deepening of the Sino-Russian strategic and cooperative partnership.

China and Russia, two neighboring powers, share similar historical and cultural origins and have the similar views on many major international issues, Jiang noted.

China and Russia need to further their coordination and cooperation in the course of establishing a just and reasonable international political and economic new order in the face of the complex international situation, Jiang said.

He said that he hopes the two countries will proceed from the overall friendly cooperation to deepen their cooperation in various areas.

The two countries need to complement each other with their respective advantages, in a bid to serve their economic development, the Chinese President said.

He said that the Russian people are a great people, stating that the Russian economy has had a solid foundation and Russia is well known for its strength in science and technological and an abundance of rich natural resources.

As a good neighbor and strategic partner of Russia, China hopes Russia will realize its economic prosperity at an early date and play an even bigger role in international affairs, Jiang said.

Jiang asked Kasyanov to convey his cordial greetings to Putin.

Kasyanov conveyed Putin's regards to Jiang. He said that the Russian government attaches great importance to developing friendly cooperation with China. He said that the main purpose of his current visit to China is to push forward the friendly cooperation with China in various fields.

Russia is willing to work with China to continue to enrich their strategic and cooperative partnership with China, the Russian prime minister said.

(Xinhua 11/3/2000)