On July 9, 2008, Chinese President Hu Jintao met with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev in Toyako, Hokkaido.

Russia offered sympathies and provided generous assistance to China in the days following the devastating earthquake in Sichuan province on May 12, and Medvedev, during his visit to China later in May, also invited some primary and middle-school students from the quake-hit areas to recover in Russia, Hu recalled. "All these embody the profound friendship President Medvedev and the Russian people bear towards the Chinese people," he told his Russian counterpart. Hu expressed profound gratitude for this. A total of 1,000 primary and middle-school students from the disaster regions will head for Russia within the next few days to recuperate there, Hu said, expressing belief that this activity will be of positive significance to pushing forward China-Russia friendship for generations.

He also briefed Medvedev on the implementation of the agreements on strengthening bilateral cooperation in various fields, which were reached during the Russian president's visit to China. The Chinese side has submitted the new draft of the "2009-2012 plan for implementing the China-Russia Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation" and will press forward consultations with Russia to reach a consensus on the plan as soon as possible, Hu said. The two sides have appointed respective deputies for bilateral energy negotiations and have decided to put the negotiation mechanism into the framework of a regular meeting mechanism between the two countries' premiers, he added. A "Year of Russian Language" and a "Year of Chinese Language" will be held in 2009 in China and 2010 in Russia, respectively. China has identified chair of the organizing committee of the Chinese side for the events and hopes that Russia will also pick up chair of the organizing committee of the Russian side so as to facilitate an early launch of the preparation work for the activities.

Hu also expressed the hope that authorities of the two countries would step up negotiations to decide on topics such as cross-border infrastructure construction, and enlarging trade and cooperation in the field of electro-mechanical products. Hu expressed belief that with the joint efforts of both sides, a new prospect will be opened up in China-Russia cooperation in all areas and bilateral strategic cooperative partnership will be pushed to a new level.

Agreeing with Hu's comments and proposals on bilateral ties, Medvedev praised the China-Russia relationship, saying bilateral ties are currently "on a high level." The heads of state of the two countries have maintained close communication and dialogue all along, which is of vital significance to the development of bilateral ties, Medvedev said. The two countries have made smooth progress in their cooperation in all areas. He hoped the energy deputies of the two countries would begin negotiations as soon as possible. Medvedev pledged that Russia will appoint chair of the organization committee of the Russian side for the "Year of Russian Language" and the "Year of Chinese Language" as soon as possible. Russia thanks for China's attaching great importance to trade and cooperation in electro-mechanical products and hopes for more fruitful exchanges in this regard, he added.

The two presidents exchanged views on bilateral cooperation in the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and agreed to work with other members to actively promote the development of the organization and make positive efforts for enhanced cooperation within the organization. Medvedev also wished the Beijing Olympics a great success, for which Hu expressed gratitude.

Ling Jihua, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee (CPCCC) and Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, Wang Huning, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee (CPCCC) and Director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee, and State Councilor Dai Bingguo attended the meeting.