Chinese President Hu Jintao held telephone talks Tuesday with Russian president-elect Vladimir Putin on bilateral ties and major international and regional issues.

Extending his congratulations on Putin's victory in the presidential election, Hu voiced confidence that Putin's new presidential term would see faster progress in building a stronger and richer nation as well as greater achievements in promoting national rejuvenation.

The Chinese Government and people firmly support Russia's choice of its own development path according to its national conditions as well as the efforts to safeguard its national sovereignty and security and boost its economic development, Hu said.

Through joint efforts, bilateral ties have developed rapidly over the past years, he said.

The two sides have maintained adequate cooperation and coordination in the international arena and made positive contributions to keeping world and regional peace and security and promoting common development, Hu said.

China has, as always, identified its ties with Russia as one of its diplomatic priorities, and stands ready to work with Russia to boost practical cooperation and strategic coordination in a bid to continuously lift the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination to higher levels, the Chinese president said.

Putin said China is a good neighbor and good friend to Russia and the bilateral ties have been built on the solid foundation of their fundamental interests.

The two nations have been steadily advancing their practical cooperation in various areas and have maintained close contact and coordination on major international issues, Putin said.

The Russian Government and people attach great importance to the ties with China and are willing to make concerted efforts to boost practical cooperation in areas such as the economy and trade, science and technology, energy and the aerospace industry, and facilitate people-to-people exchanges, he said.

Against the backdrop of the volatile international situation, the China-Russia cooperation is playing an important role in safeguarding world peace and stability, Putin said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2012)