Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev discussed disasters and bilateral relations during a telephone conversation Tuesday.

Medvedev conveyed his heartfelt condolences to China over its worst mudslides in decades and the great loss of life and property, expressing belief the Chinese government and people would overcome all difficulties and prevail over the disaster.

He hoped the people injured would make a quick recovery and the mudslides-hit area would rebuild soon, noting that Russia was willing to provide assistance and support for China.

Hu said the Chinese government had reacted immediately to the disaster in Zhouqu County of China's Gansu Province and was fully focused on the rescue and relief operations.

Safeguarding the safety of civilians was the Chinese government's top priority and it had tried its best to rescue the people stricken by the Aug. 8 mudslides, which have left 1,254 people killed and 490 others missing so far, he said.

Currently, relocation of the people affected, rescue and treatment of the injured, epidemic prevention, and reconstruction of infrastructure were underway in an urgent but orderly manner, he said.

Hu also expressed China's appreciation of the Russian government and people after President Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin had been quick to send their condolences and offered help, respectively.

China was also greatly concerned by Russia's deadly wildfires and identified with Russia over its great loss of life and property, said the Chinese president, adding that China had offered assistance.

Under the staunch leadership of the Russian government, the Russian people did their best to fight the wildfire and effectively safeguarded the safety of its people and property, said Hu, who once again sent condolences to Russia on behalf of the Chinese government and people.

Hu pointed out China and Russia extending a helping hand to each other at the critical moment fully spoke of the friendship and the fine tradition of helping each other, as well as the high-level strategic coordinating partnership between the two countries.

China was willing to strengthen rescue and relief cooperation with Russia, exchange experiences, learn each other's good points and help each other within the framework of bilateral coordination system and Shanghai Cooperation Organization to benefit the two countries and peoples, he said.

This year, the China-Russia strategic coordinating partnership continued to develop soundly, Hu said, adding that President Medvedev's state visit to China next month was a big event in bilateral relations and an important opportunity to boost the bilateral relations in an all-round way.

The Chinese president voiced his hope that the upcoming visit would achieve complete success and make an important contribution to the comprehensive and in-depth development of the strategic coordinating partnership.

The Russian president thanked China for its condolences and support over the wildfires, which have killed more than 50 people, adding that he was in entire agreement with Hu on enhancing rescue and relief cooperation and boosting bilateral relations.

The strategic partnership between Russia and China had stood the test of time, Medvedev said, noting that Moscow was willing to reinforce political, economic and trade cooperation and human and cultural exchanges with Beijing, closely coordinate on international and regional affairs and carry out various agreements between the two countries.

Frequent meetings between heads of states were conducive to bilateral relations and demonstrated the level of the bilateral strategic partnership, he said. He expected to exchange views thoroughly with the Chinese president on bilateral relations and issues of common concern during his visit to China.

(Xinhua News Agency August 17, 2010)