On March 13, 2008, Chinese President Hu Jintao held a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Hu said since Putin took office as Russian president, China-Russia relations have achieved sound, in-depth development with fruitful exchanges and cooperation in all areas. The two countries have signed the Sino-Russian Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation and achieved a thorough settlement of the border issue left over from history, said Hu. Both countries successfully staged the "Year of Russia" in China and the "Year of China" in Russia during the past two years, after the signing of a joint statement on world order in the 21st century in July 2005, he added. Hu spoke highly of Putin's outstanding contributions to the China-Russia strategic cooperative partnership.  Hu expressed belief that with the joint efforts of both sides, China-Russia strategic cooperative partnership will surely be pushed to one new level after another and the cause of friendship between the two countries will bear more fruit. Hu also congratulated on the successful presidential election in Russia.

Putin highly evaluated his close and fruitful cooperation with Hu, reaffirming that Russia and China are strategic partners and that his country attaches great importance to bilateral ties with China. More than 600 events were staged within the framework of the national theme years, he said, adding Russia and China have witnessed steady expansion of bilateral trade and good cooperation in world affairs.  He expressed hope that the leaders of both countries will continue close exchanges and further promote the Russia-China strategic partnership.

Putin also wished the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games every success.