MOSCOW President Putin has promised that Russia will maintain strong ties with China under Dmitri Medvedev, his successor.

Mr Putin, who rules the world's second-biggest oil exporter, says that relations with China are at a historic high, while President Hu Jintao describes Mr Putin as his “good friend”.

The Kremlin said in a statement: “Putin and Hu Jintao exchanged sincere wishes of success in future work for the stable development of the two countries.

“Putin underlined that the course of comprehensive development of Russian-Chinese co-operation will be continued in the future.”

The two leaders meet regularly and Mr Hu was one of the first world leaders to congratulate Mr Medvedev after his election this month as Russia's next president.

Mr Medvedev told Angela Merkel, the visiting German Chancellor, on Saturday that he would seek continuity in Russian foreign policy.

Moscow is eager to boost exports of oil, gas and nuclear products to China, the world's second-biggest consumer of oil and power. (Reuters)

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