Chinese President Hu Jintao sent a message to Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday to congratulate him on his inauguration as Russian president.

In his message, the Chinese president extended his best wishes to Medvedev and expressed the confidence that Russia will score new achievements in its development under Medvedev's leadership.

Developing the strategic partnership between the two countries conforms to the fundamental interests of both nations, and is also important to safeguarding peace and security of the region and the world at large, and promoting common development and prosperity, Hu said.

It is the shared responsibility of China and Russia to ensure the steady and healthy development of their strategic partnership, Hu said.

The Chinese president also expressed his readiness to work with Medvedev to deepen mutual political trust between the two countries, deepen pragmatic cooperation and strengthen coordination in international and regional affairs.

Medvedev was sworn in on Wednesday in Moscow, succeeding Vladimir Putin two months after he won the country's presidential election.

(Xinhua News Agency May 8, 2008)