On the afternoon of July 21, 2008, Chinese President Hu Jintao met with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the Great Hall of the People.

Describing current Sino-Russian relations as stable and healthy, Hu hailed the close high-level exchanges between the two countries, especially his two successful meetings with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev. The two countries have deepened exchanges and cooperation in all areas and maintained close coordination and collaboration in international and regional affairs. Hu particularly expressed thanks for the support of Russia on the Taiwan, Tibet and Olympics issues, as well as its swift relief aid after the May 12 earthquake in Sichuan Province. The Russian side also invited a total of 1000 primary and middle-school students from China's disaster regions to recuperate in Russia, said Hu. "All this demonstrates the friendship between the two states and peoples," Hu said, calling the two countries good neighbors, friends and partners. Hu said that the relationship with Russia has been China's diplomatic priority. "We will work with Russia to further implement all agreements and consensus reached by both sides, earnestly advance pragmatic cooperation and deepen strategic coordination in a bid to upgrade the China-Russia strategic cooperative partnership to new heights," said Hu.

Lavrov said that to comprehensively develop and deepen Russia-China strategic cooperative partnership is an important priority of Russia's foreign policy. The frequent exchanges between the leaders of the two countries have laid a sound basis for bilateral ties which have been developing at a high level. China and Russia have conducted sound consultations and cooperation in a range of major international and regional issues. Lavrov said Russia hoped to promote strategic security consultation and energy negotiation mechanism with China, to well implement the good-neighborly treaty of friendship and cooperation and to strengthen strategic cooperation in international affairs.

Lavrov said Russia would give a warm reception to children from China's earthquake-hit zone who were recuperating in Russia.

Lavrov also wished the Beijing Olympic Games a great success.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi attended the meeting.