Chinese President Hu Jintao sent Russian President Vladimir Putin a congratulatory message on his re-election as Russian president and exchanged views with him Monday on promoting Sino-Russian relations.  

In a phone call with Putin, President Hu spoke highly of the development of Sino-Russian ties since Putin took office as Russian president, stressing that it is the Chinese government's constant policy to develop long-term, stable relations of friendship and cooperation between China and Russia.

The Chinese government is ready to work with the Russian side to expand and deepen cooperation between the two countries in various fields, Hu said.

Speaking on the same occasion, Putin said the Russian people and leaders value the mutual trust and cooperation between Russia and China and are willing to promote the strategic partnership of cooperation between the two countries.

Putin added that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and the "referendum" sought by the Taiwan authorities will lead to tensions across the Taiwan Straits.

The Russian government firmly supports the Chinese government's principle and stand on maintaining national sovereignty and territorial integrity and resolutely opposes Taiwan independence in any form, Putin said.

The same day, President Hu sent a congratulatory message to Putin on his re-election as Russian president. Hu said in the message that the strategic partnership of cooperation between the two countries has witnessed in-depth development in recent years, with their mutual political trust further boosted, with results in cooperation in various fields and bringing tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries.

The Chinese president said China will work with Russia to push the strategic partnership of cooperation to a new high in the spirit enshrined in the Sino-Russian Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation.

(Xinhua News Agency March 16, 2004)