CANNES, France - Chinese President Hu Jintao met with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev Thursday to discuss additional development of the China-Russia strategic cooperative partnership and exchange views on major issues of common concern.

The two leaders met on the sidelines of a summit of the Group of 20 (G-20), which convened on Thursday and Friday to address problems affecting the world economic recovery and stability of the global financial markets.

The China-Russia strategic cooperative partnership has seen unprecedented development since the two countries signed the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation in 2001.

In June, President Hu paid a state visit to Russia, during which he and Medvedev agreed to develop a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and lasting friendship in the new decade.

They also agreed to increase bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2015 and $200 billion in 2020, among cooperation in other areas.

During Thursday's meeting, Hu told Medvedev that China and Russia have made important headway in jointly promoting development of their relations so far this year, taking celebration of the 10th anniversary of signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation as a favorable chance.

Hu stressed that the next 10 years will be a period of important strategic opportunities for vigorous national development in both China and Russia, and also for the development of China-Russia relations.

The efforts of the two countries to deepen their all-round cooperation and strengthen mutual support will be of very great significance to safeguarding the national sovereignty, security and development interests of both nations, and to promoting comparison of international forces toward the direction of better balance, Hu said.

The Chinese president noted that China is willing to work together with Russia in strengthening mutual political support and deepening mutually beneficial cooperation and strategic cooperation between the two countries in an all-round way on the basis of the tenet and principle of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation, in promoting ?sustainable, healthy and stable development of China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership.

Meanwhile, Medvedev said that currently, Russia-China ties are in a period of favorable development, with mutual political trust between the two countries obviously enhanced, and with bilateral strategic cooperative partnership promoted to a higher level.

The heads of state of the two countries frequently meet to coordinate positions and to set new goals for the development of bilateral relations, he said.

So far this year, both Russia and China have solemnly celebrated the 10th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation, which signifies the high-level of the two countries' cooperation.p ? Practical cooperation between Russia and China has kept strengthening in all fields while bilateral trade has been in favorable trend of development, with the trade volume growing rapidly, Medvedev said, adding that the goals for trade promotion set by both sides expected to be reached.

Russia and China have made new progress in cooperation in such fields as energy, high technology and aviation and spaceflight, and have conducted smooth cooperation in multilateral domains, he recalled.

Medvedev said that Russia is willing to work together with China in strengthening mutual political trust and practical cooperation in all fields, especially in the field of economy and finance.

Russia is also willing to work together with China in strengthening coordination, communication and cooperation within the frameworks of the G20, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum and the BRICS to safeguard the common interests of the two nations.

No matter what changes the situation may undergo, Russia's policy of developing strategic cooperative partnership with China will remain unshakable, Medvedev said.

The two sides exchanged views on the Cannes G20 summit and agreed to strengthen communication and coordination to help achieve positive outcomes at the summit.

In addition, the two sides exchanged views on the Central Asia situation and the development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

At present, the Central Asia situation remains generally stable. China is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Russia in their joint efforts for maintaining stability, developing the economy and improving people's living standards in Central Asian countries so as to promote lasting peace and common prosperity in the region, Hu said.

The Chinese president said that the SCO is an important platform for maintaining regional security and stability and promoting the common development of member states. China and Russia are the main powers to promote the development of the organization.

Holding the rotating presidency of the SCO, China will stick to the theme of the "Year of Good-Neighborliness and Friendship" and make every effort to consolidate the solidarity among member states, facilitate consensus of all parties, lift all works of the organization to a new level, and build a solid foundation for achieving greater progress in the next 10 years of the organization, Hu said.

For this purpose, China hopes to enhance communication and coordination with Russia, Hu said.

Medvedev said that Russia is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in maintaining regional development and stability. Russia believes that during China's chairmanship of the SCO, cooperation under the framework of the SCO will witness new progress.