Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Russian counterpart Dimitry Medvedev Wednesday attended a celebration to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations.

The two leaders reviewed the development of bilateral ties during the past 60 years and spoke highly of the great achievements made since the establishment of the China-Russia strategic partnership of cooperation in 1996.

They expressed the hope that people from all walks of life will maintain the friendship for generations and deepen the strategic cooperation so as to a create brilliant prospect for bilateral relations.

In a speech to the audience in the world famous Bolishoi Theatre of Russia, Hu extended congratulations and best wishes to the Russian people.

The China-Russia relationship has gone through an extraordinary course of development during the past 60 years, which also saw increasingly mature bilateral political relations, Hu said.

Leaders of the two countries, proceeding from a long-term perspective, decided to establish the China-Russia strategic partnership of cooperation in April 1996. The China-Russia strategic partnership of cooperation has evolved into a mature, stable and sound relationship and bilateral political mutual trust has reached a new high, Hu said.

The last 60 years have witnessed abundant achievements of practical cooperation between China and Russia, deeper friendship between the two peoples, and enhanced bilateral cooperation on international affairs, he said.

The past experience has indicated that only with mutual trust and sincerity can the bilateral political relations be deepened; only through mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit can the parties benefit most from the cooperation and realize common prosperity, Hu said.

"Only through mutual understanding and support can both sides support each other on issues of core interests and effectively safeguard their own interests; only by seeking common ground while reserving differences can both parties ensure their long-term relations developing in a sound and steady manner, " Hu said.

Hu said the world is undergoing major changes and restructuring. China and Russia, which are permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, are facing the top task of domestic development and also shoulder the historic mission of promoting world peace and development.

Under the new circumstances, the China-Russia relations have been at a new historical starting point, facing a new opportunity of development, Hu said.

"We will make joint efforts to set an objective for the long-term development of the Sino-Russian relations and push for a sound and rapid development of the bilateral ties," Hu said.

The Chinese president raised a four-point proposal for developing the China-Russian ties.

First, the two sides should demonstrate sincerity and maintain mutual trust, and consolidate the political basis for the China-Russia relations, he said.

Second, the two sides should uphold the principle of mutual benefit for a win-win situation, so as to strengthen the economic foundation for bilateral relations.

Third, China and Russia should carry forward the friendly ties from generation to generation, so as to lay a solid social foundation for the China-Russia relations.

Fourth, both sides should maintain close cooperation to firmly safeguard the strategic security interests of China and Russia.

Medvedev recalled in the speech that precisely one day after the founding of the People's Republic of China, the two countries established diplomatic ties.

He said the Russia-China relations are currently undergoing rapid development, as the two countries have set up an exemplary, brand new pattern of cooperation based on independence and equality.

Such an exemplary relationship is of vital importance to not only the two countries, but also the entire world, said Medvedev.

The unique and good-neighborly relations between Russia and China have made great contribution to the establishment of a new international order, to the strengthened momentum of multipolarization, to the respect for the development patterns independently chosen by countries, and to the compliance with the international law, he said.

Both sides have further expanded the social basis for their strategic partnership of cooperation by launching large-scale cooperation projects and reciprocal national theme year activities, Medvedev said.

The exchange of youths between the two countries will ensure that the Russian-China friendship will be passed on from generation to generation, he added.

Russia is willing to deepen its relations with China in all spheres, said Medvedev.

The two leaders then watched spectacular performances by Chinese and Russian artists together with some 900 people from both sides.

Prior to the celebration, Hu presented medals and credentials to 60 Russians including Medvedev and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin for their great contributions to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Sino-Russian diplomatic ties.

(Xinhua News Agency June 18, 2009)