On the afternoon of August 17, 2010, Chinese President Hu Jintao at request held a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev.

Medvedev first conveyed his heartfelt condolences to China over its worst mudslides in decades and the great loss of life and property, expressing belief the Chinese government and people would overcome all difficulties and prevail over the disaster. He hoped the people injured would make a quick recovery and the mudslides-hit area would rebuild soon, noting that Russia was willing to provide assistance and support for China.

Hu said the Chinese government had reacted immediately to the disaster in Zhouqu County of China's Gansu Province and was fully focused on the rescue and relief operations. Safeguarding the safety of civilians was the Chinese government's top priority and it had tried its best to rescue the people stricken by the Aug. 8 mudslides, he said. Currently, relocation of the people affected, rescue and treatment of the injured, epidemic prevention, and reconstruction of infrastructure were underway in an urgent but orderly manner, he said. Hu also expressed China's appreciation of the Russian government and people after President Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin had been quick to send their condolences and offered help, respectively.

China was also greatly concerned by Russia's deadly wildfires and identified with Russia over its great loss of life and property, said the Chinese president, adding that China had offered assistance within its ability. Under the staunch leadership of the Russian government, the Russian people did their best to fight the wildfire and effectively safeguarded the safety of its people and property, said Hu, who once again sent condolences to Russia on behalf of the Chinese government and people. Medvedev thanked for the condolences and support offered by the Chinese side.

Hu pointed out China and Russia extending a helping hand to each other at the critical moment fully spoke of the friendship and the fine tradition of helping each other, as well as the high-level strategic partnership of coordination between the two countries. China was willing to strengthen rescue and relief cooperation with Russia, exchange experiences, learn each other's good points and help each other within the framework of bilateral coordination mechanism and Shanghai Cooperation Organization to benefit the two countries and peoples, he said.

This year, the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination continued to develop soundly, Hu said, adding that President Medvedev's state visit to China next month was a big event in bilateral relations and an important opportunity to boost the bilateral relations in an all-round way. The Chinese president voiced his belief that the upcoming visit would achieve complete success and make an important contribution to the comprehensive and in-depth development of the strategic partnership of coordination.

The Russian president said he fully agreed to Hu's important proposals on enhancing emergency disaster relief cooperation and boosting bilateral relations. The strategic partnership between Russia and China had stood the test of time, Medvedev said, noting that Russia was willing to reinforce political, economic and trade cooperation and people-to-people and cultural exchanges with China, closely coordinate on international and regional affairs and carry out various agreements between the two countries. Frequent meetings between the two heads of state were conducive to bilateral relations and demonstrated the level of the bilateral strategic partnership of coordination, he said. He expected to exchange views thoroughly with the Chinese president on bilateral relations and issues of common concern during his visit to China in September, expressing belief that the visit will be a complete success.