Mr Medvedev said in particular in his message:
“China has carried out truly grandiose changes in all areas of life over these last decades. The unprecedented success of the XXIX Olympic Games in Beijing was a clear illustration of how dynamically and harmoniously China is developing today and how much its international influence has grown.
The Russian-Chinese strategic partnership, which is expanding with every year, is doing much to develop effectively our countries’ potential. This kind of constructive dialogue enables us to work together to reach all objectives. We are developing close political contacts at various levels. The final settlement of the border issue clearly demonstrates the level of mutual trust in our relations. Our mutually beneficial trade and economic ties continue to increase. In the cultural and humanitarian sphere we have held successful events through the National Year exchanges in 2006–2007. I am sure that the upcoming Year of the Russian Language in China and the Year of the Chinese Language in Russia in 2009 and 2010 will help promote understanding between our countries and peoples and further develop the multifaceted Russian-Chinese strategic cooperation based on friendship and good-neighbourliness”.