China’s Hu calls for more ’big’ projects with Russia

Chinese President Hu Jintao today hailed Sino-Russian ties, telling Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin that Beijing hopes to engage Moscow in more “big” economic and trade projects.

Chinese President Hu Jintao on Wednesday hailed Sino-Russian ties, telling Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin that Beijing hopes to engage Moscow in more “big” economic and trade projects.

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The two leaders met ahead of Putin’s departure following a three-day visit that cemented the burgeoning trade relationship between the two sides with billions of dollars in new deals signed yesterday.

“Sino-Russian strategic partnership is currently at a new historic starting point and wider prospects are opening up before us,” China National Radio quoted Hu as telling Putin in a meeting.

“China is willing to make efforts with the Russian side to further strengthen strategic consultations in international politics, economics, security and other areas and push forward cooperation on big projects in trade, energy and high technology.”

The neighbours signed several cooperation agreements, including one committing each country to notifying the other of the launch of ballistic missiles from its territory, as well as a raft of commercial accords.

Russian gas giant Gazprom and China National Petroleum Corporation signed a framework agreement which Gazprom head Alexei Miller said would eventually see 70 billion cubic metres of natural gas sent to energy-hungry China per year.