Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, exchanged views on Saturday on their countries' ties and other issues of mutual concern.

The two leaders, who met on the sidelines of the 12th Economic Leaders' Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in the Chilean capital, reached consensus on a wide range of issues, said a press release issued by the Chinese delegation.

Hu was quoted as saying he and Putin agreed to further develop the ties between their countries, adding that the Russian president's visit to China earlier this year had achieved important results.

The consensus is of great significance to the long-term and stable development of Sino-Russian strategic partnership of cooperation, the Chinese president noted.

The ties between the two countries have witnessed sound development this year with the settlement of all the border issues, and bilateral trade is expected to exceed 20 billion US dollars, Hu said.

"The two countries have approved the program for implementing the Sino-Russian Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, thus laying down a systematic plan for cooperation in the next four years," he added.

The Chinese president also put forward the following proposals for furthering the two countries' relations in 2005:

-- Maintaining exchanges of high-level visits and contact;
 
-- Earnestly implementing the program of the Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation and holding consultations for the purpose;

-- Increasing the efficiency of the bilateral cooperation mechanism and striving to make breakthroughs in key areas; and

-- Strengthening communication and consultation on international affairs.

Putin, for his part, said the two countries have made progress in their cooperation in the political, economic and cultural areas, and the settlement of their border issues has solved once and for all the recurring disputes between them.

In addition, the two leaders shared similar views on a wide range of international and regional issues.

They said the Iran's nuclear issue should be properly addressed within the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the international community should support the peaceful reconstruction in Afghanistan.

The two leaders also vowed to actively safeguard the stability and development in Central Asia while stressing they would work together with all parties concerned for the earliest possible start of a new round of the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

The Chinese president, who is on a four-nation Latin America tour, arrived in Santiago Thursday for a state visit to Chile and for the two-day APEC meeting.

(Xinhua News Agency November 22, 2004)