Chinese President Hu Jintao spoke highly of China-Russia relations before his upcoming Russia visit, saying his visit would achieve substantial fruits.

Hu made the remarks on Tuesday when meeting with the journalists from Russian media in advance of his Russia visit, which lasts from March 26 to 28. Xinhua was authorized to release the content of the interview on Sunday.

"I am expecting to confer with President Putin on deepening China-Russian strategic partnership of cooperation and expanding bilateral cooperation in various fields," said Hu.

"I believe that, under joint efforts of both sides, the visit will achieve substantial fruits, and inject new motivity into the growth of China-Russian ties and bilateral pragmatic cooperation," Hu said.

China and Russia witnessed fruitful cooperation in politics, economy, trade, science, technology and culture, Hu said, noting that the two nations also maintained close coordination in Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, Iran nuclear issue and other international and regional affairs.

"The development of bilateral strategic partnership of cooperation is the common desire and inevitable option of the two nations and the two peoples," Hu said.

The Chinese president made a four-point proposal in further promoting bilateral ties. The first is to increase political mutual trust and to support each other on issues concerning national core interests.

The second is to expand pragmatic cooperation on such fields as economy, trade, energy, science and technology.

Thirdly, Hu said, the two nations should avail the opportunity of the Year of China in Russia to further strengthen cultural cooperation so as to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

The two nations should also promote strategic coordination in international and regional affairs, and make more contribution to world peace and development, said Hu.

During the three-day visit, Hu will attend the opening ceremony of the Year of China in Russia, a reciprocal event to the Year of Russia held in China last year.

The Year of China in Russia will stage some 200 activities on politics, economy, science, technology and culture.

"The Year of Russia in China achieved full success, and I believe that the Year of China in Russia will also be successful," Hu said.

"This year is important for the growth of China-Russian relations," Hu said, adding that bilateral strategic partnership of cooperation, established 11 years ago, has entered a new stage.