Trusted comrades

President Hu Jintao meets regional leaders yesterday in Russia's third-largest city of Novosibirsk. A joint communique issued at the end of Mr Hu's four-day visit to Russia detailed an 11-point co-operation agreement, saying the two sides were satisfied with their meetings and had 'reached concrete achievements'.

'Russian-Chinese political trust has reached a new level with broadening and deepening co-operation in every aspect. The strategic partnership has entered a new stage of development,' according to the communique carried on Xinhua's website.

It said the two sides supported each other in sovereignty and national security issues. Russia vowed not to sell arms to Taiwan.