They said they will continue to support each other and strengthen coordination within the framework of multilateral organizations in the Asia-Pacific region, namely the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the East Asia Forum, the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA).

China favors Russia's efforts to join the East Asia Summit and the Asia-Europe Meeting, and is willing to offer support for Russia in this regard.

The two presidents said stability, security, sustainable economic development and social progress in Central Asia serve the long-term interests of all nations in this region.

China and Russia will work with Central Asian countries both bilaterally and within the SCO framework to deepen cooperation in the fields of politics, trade, economy and security, as well as in severely cracking down on terrorism, separatism, extremism, drug trafficking and cross-border organized crime.

Both countries welcome the enforcement of the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia.

The two leaders expressed grave concern over the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

UN Security Council Resolution 1874 is aimed at strengthening the efforts to solve the Korean peninsula nuclear issue by political and diplomatic means, they said.

They urged an earlier resumption of the six-party talks, expressing hope that parties to the talks could fulfill their respective obligations stipulated in the joint statement of the six-party talks issued in Beijing on Sept. 19, 2005.

China and Russia are ready to contribute to easing the tension in Northeast Asia, said the two leaders. They added the parties concerned should be committed to addressing disputes through dialogue and consultation and by peaceful means, and to maintaining and consolidating regional peace and security on the basis of establishing multilateral mechanisms.

The two sides also reiterated that the Middle East issue should be tackled through a comprehensive, sustained and equitable approach in line with the widely accepted principle of international law, underlining the importance of holding an international conference on the Middle East in Moscow.

As far as the Iranian nuclear issue is concerned, the two countries said it can only be solved through political and diplomatic approaches, calling for more efforts to regain the trust from the international community over the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program.

They added that negotiations with Iran should be activated at an early date so as to seek a comprehensive, lasting and proper settlement of the the issue.

Two sides satisfied with results of meeting

The talks, which were held in an atmosphere of friendship, cooperation, mutual trust and understanding, have produced significant achievements. Both sides were satisfied with the results of the meeting.

President Hu has invited Medvedev to visit China at a convenient time in 2010. Medvedev has accepted Hu's invitation.

(Xinhua News Agency June 18, 2009)