RF, China maintain strategic partnership - Medvedev (adds)

NEW YORK, September 23 (Itar-Tass) - Russian-Chinese relations can be
considered strategic partnership, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said
at a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao on Wednesday.
"We have regular meetings. Even if any meetings are postponed, this
will not change the nature of bilateral dialogue, which is the basis of
strategic partnership," Medvedev said.
He recalled that this was the fourth meeting.
"In addition to our meetings on the sidelines of the summits, we made
the state visit to our country during which we discussed a wide range of
issues of Russian-Chinese relations. We also determined plans for our
future relations. Your visit became the landmark in the development of our
relations," the Russian president stressed.
Hu Jintao said he regretted that his meeting with President Medvedev
at the July G-8 summit did not take place due to the political events in
China. "I ask you to excuse me," he said.
"I am ready to continue close contacts with you in order to exchange
views on bilateral relations and other issues of mutual interest," the
Chinese leader said. "Close contacts between the leaders of our countries
are a powerful impetus to the development of strategic partnership," he
added.
-0-yur