MOSCOW, September 4 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Hu Jintao praised positive international significance of the recent Russian-Chinese military exercise, a Kremlin press release said Sunday.
During a phone conversation Saturday, "[both presidents] praised the success of the first Russian-Chinese joint military exercise in history, which serves as clear evidence of solid partnership between the two countries," the Kremlin press release said.
Both leaders said the exercise demonstrated the ability of the Russian and Chinese armed forces to counter successfully the new threats and challenges to the global community.
The Russian president congratulated the Chinese president and people with the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. In his turn, the Chinese president thanked Vladimir Putin saying the victory in the war against Japan had become possible because of the decisive effort of the Soviet army, which the Chinese people would never forget.
During the conversation, both presidents exchanged views on various issues of bilateral and international agenda, and discussed contacts in the near future.
