Chinese President Hu Jintao said in Beijing Tuesday that China is ready to work with Russia to add to the "strategic cooperative partnership" between the two countries.

Hu told Sergei Mironov, chairman of the Federation Council (Upper House) of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, during a brief meeting, that a new China-Russia relationship for the 21st century could be created.

It would contribute to the common development and prosperity and to the peace and stability of the region and the world if China and Russia could strengthen political trust and expand mutually-beneficial cooperation, Hu said.

Hu paid a state visit to Russia last May. He and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a joint statement, stressing their intention to enhance relations and the strategic cooperative partnership.

Hu described the current China-Russia relations as "increasingly mature" following the development in the past decade. The relationship was characterized by regular and close top-level exchanges, the constant consolidation of the political and legal basis of bilateral relations, and the evident results in the areas of economy and trade, science and technology, and culture.

Mironov said the series of agreements reached by Hu and Russian President Putin during Hu's last visit to Russia injected new vigor to Russia-China relations. Russia will work with China to implement the agreements.

Mironov stressed that Russia always regards China "a good neighbor, a good friend and a good partner."

(Xinhua News Agency August 6, 2003)