Chinese, Russian presidents exchange New Year greetings

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, exchanged New Year greetings Tuesday, expressing their shared wish to further enhance bilateral ties in 2014.

In his message, Xi extended sincere greetings to Putin and the Russian people on behalf of the Chinese government, the Chinese people and himself.

During the past year, China and Russia focused on the overarching objective of facilitating healthy and stable progress of the international situation and promoting the development and revitalization of both countries, Xi said.

With a strategic vision and a global perspective, he added, the two countries pushed forward their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and scored significant achievements in bilateral cooperation in various areas.

Expressing satisfaction with the development of bilateral relations in 2013, Xi said he always believes that a high-level and strong China-Russia relationship is a blessing not only for the people of both countries but for the entire world.

In the new year, Xi said, he is ready to maintain close communication and contact with Putin and work together with him to further boost bilateral cooperation in various areas and steer the development of bilateral ties into a new phase.

He also conveyed his confidence that the China-Russia Youth Friendly Exchanges Year program to be carried out in 2014 and 2015 will further deepen the understanding and friendship between the young generations of the two countries.

In addition, the program will gain more public support for passing on the bilateral friendship from generation to generation and pursuing common development of the two countries, and contribute to the sustained development of the China-Russia partnership.

For his part, Putin conveyed his heartfelt greetings for the New Year and the upcoming traditional Chinese Spring Festival.

Noting that bilateral relations enjoyed plentiful good news during the past year, Putin said Xi's state visit to Russia in March was of especially great significance.

The trip, he said, injected great energy into the development of the Russia-China partnership and the improvement of bilateral coordination in international affairs.

Russia and China have successfully organized the Tourism Year program and now are jointly launching the Youth Friendly Exchanges Year program, he added.

The Russian president said he is confident that the new event will further promote the mutual understanding and trust between the two peoples.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, also exchanged New Year greetings.