Chinese President Hu Jintao said Sunday that China and Russia should strengthen strategic coordination at a time when the global political and economic structures are undergoing the most profound changes since the end of the Cold War.

Chinese President Hu Jintao shakes hands with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev during their meeting in Lima, capital of Peru, Noveverm 23, 2008.

Hu made the remarks at a meeting with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev on the sidelines of the 16th Economic Leaders' Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Lima, Peru.

China and Russia should make concerted efforts to overcome the impact of the ongoing global financial crisis, maintain the sound momentum of their economic growth, and push ahead with reforms of the international financial system, the Chinese president said.

Hu also called for efforts to earnestly carry out the outline on implementing the Sino-Russian Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation.

The two nations should enhance consultation on strategic security, and conduct timely exchanges of views on major international and regional issues and coordinate their positions, Hu said.

On issues related to their core interests, China and Russia should continue to strengthen mutual support and coordination, he added.

Efforts should also be made to combine the development of the Sino-Russian strategic cooperative partnership with market-oriented policies, so as to further promote their pragmatic cooperation in various fields, he said.

As for the Six-Party Talks on the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, Hu urged relevant parties to continue to strengthen coordination and cooperation, push forward the talks and strive for the gradual establishment of a mechanism for peace and security in Northeast Asia.

He expressed China's support for Russia's role as an initiator in the establishment of the mechanism, adding that the two countries should also enhance coordination in promoting regional economic cooperation.

Medvedev said the two countries should strengthen strategic consultation on issues relating to peace and security across the world and in the Asia-Pacific region.

Russia is willing to strengthen consultation and cooperation with China in jointly coping with the global financial crisis, the Russian president said.

The financial departments of the two countries could hold a meeting at an appropriate time to discuss how to implement the results of the financial summit of the G20 held a week ago in Washington and those of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, he said.

On the Six-Party Talks, the Russian president said relevant parties should properly handle their differences and make efforts to push forward the talks and promote peace and security in Northeast Asia.

(Xinhua News Agency November 24, 2008)