(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-09-08 22:01

China and Russia have the necessity to continue to enhance strategic cooperation in Asia-Pacific security and other areas in a joint effort to safeguard regional and world peace and stability, Chinese President Hu Jintao said in Sydney Saturday.

Hu made the remarks while meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

Situation in the Asia-Pacific region in general remains stable though there are also some unstable and uncertain elements, he said.

He urged the two sides to give full play to the bilateral strategic security consultation mechanism by coordinating stance and deepening cooperation, thus effectively combating new threats and challenges.

Both countries should strengthen communication, push forward the six-party talks and the denuclearization process on the Korean Peninsula, so as to safeguard peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the whole northeastern Asia, he said.

Besides China and Russia, the six-party talks also involve the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the United States, the Republic of Korea and Japan. Six rounds of talks have been held in Beijing and different working groups are making efforts to deal with concrete matters.

Hu called on Russia to continue to support China's stance on the Taiwan issue and its efforts to curb secessionist forces seeking "Taiwan independence."

During the meeting, Hu spoke highly of the development of the China-Russia strategic partnership and the important contribution made by Russian President Putin and the Russian government to all-round cooperation between the two countries.

China will implement consensus reached by both sides, he said.

China will firmly promote political mutual trust, deepen concrete cooperation, enhance strategic coordination in order to maintain the momentum in bilateral ties, he said.

He urged both sides to promptly formulate implementation guidance between 2009 and 2012 of the Sino-Russian treaty of good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation.

Putin said the Russia-China ties have reached the unprecedented high level, thanks to concerted efforts made by both countries.

He said the Russian and Chinese leaders have held frequent meetings, the bilateral trade has seen rapid growth, cultural exchanges have been increasingly conducted, cooperation and friendship have been enhanced steadily in the border areas of both countries and their cooperation has also improved in regional and international affairs.

He hailed the cooperation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which was founded in June 2001 grouping China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Putin also expressed gratitude to President Hu and the Chinese government for the efforts to promote bilateral ties and all-round cooperation.

He pledged to enhance coordination between the two countries and in regional and global affairs.

He stressed that the territorial sovereignty constitutes a key element of norms governing international laws. Russia firmly supports China on the Taiwan issue, he said, emphasizing that such a policy "remains unchanged."

Hu and Putin are in Sydney to attend the economic leaders' meeting of the 21-member APEC forum on September 8-9 in this coastal city of Australia.