(xinhua)
Updated: 2007-08-17 10:47

Chinese President Hu Jintao called Thursday for timely coordination between China and Russia of stance on bilateral ties and major regional and global issues.

Hu made the remarks while meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Both leaders commended the Russia Year in China and China Year in Russia, a series of theme activities held alternatively in China and Russia in last two years, proposing to make it a regular event.

"The work of the China-Russia commercial chamber of machinery and electric products should begin at an early date," Hu said.

Echoing Hu, Putin also called for giving full play to the role of the commercial chamber.

To further expand bilateral trade, Hu urged the two sides to speed up negotiations on the construction of the pipeline to transport crude oil and natural gas and expand mutual investment.

The two leaders proposed to strengthen cooperation between localities of the two countries, with Hu calling for starting the implementation of local cooperation strategy as early as possible and formulating a medium- and long-term program for it.

Putin expressed willingness to strengthen cooperation between the Far East region of Russia and China's Northeastern region.

Hu called for strengthening cooperation on protecting and using trans-border water resources and hoped the two sides to step up talks for inking an agreement in this regard.

Putin said Russia wishes to to enhance cooperation with China in energy, electricity, civil aviation, telecommunication and environmental protection.