Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday spoke highly of the Russian-Chinese relations, noting the ties are developing positively.  

During a meeting with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, Putin said that leaders of the two countries are maintaining close communications and the bilateral trade turnover has being increased rapidly.

The Russia-China Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation "works and does so to the full," he emphasized.

He said that this year was a special year in Russian-Chinese relations. "It will be 55 years this year since our states established diplomatic relations."

He also said he would like to exchange views on bilateral and international issues of common interests with the Chinese leadership to deepen the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Li, on his part, congratulated Putin on the achievements made by Russia under his leadership.

He said China and Russia will have a series of important high-level visits this year that will be conducive to deepening the friendship between their peoples and promoting the positive development of bilateral strategic partnership of cooperation.

China attaches great importance to the relations with Russia and is willing to work with the Russian side in fulfilling the consensus reached by the two heads of state and the China-Russia Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, the Chinese minister said, vowing to further enhance the exchanges and cooperation with Russia in various areas for the benefit of the two nations and their peoples.

Putin reaffirmed that Russia will consistently support China's principle on the Taiwan issue. Li thanked him for his statement.

Earlier on Wednesday, Li held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on bilateral and international issues. Arriving in Moscow on Wednesday for a three-day visit, he is to attend the foreign ministers' regular meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on Friday.

(Xinhua News Agency April 22, 2004)