Premier Wen Jiabao met separately with leaders from Russia, Turkey and Malaysia in Beijing Monday.

Meeting with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Galina Karelova, Wen said China and Russia are both big countries boasting long histories and rich cultural resources.

Wen said their cooperation has provided a sound basis for their strategic partnership and the smooth development of the relationship.

Karelova remarked on the positive development and achievements of cultural collaborations in recent years.

Wen also met with Mehmet Ali Sahin, deputy prime minister of Turkey. He said the Chinese government considers it important to cooperate in personnel training and development. Wen pointed to the remarkable results from cooperation in this field in past years.

Sahin said the Turkish government also values its relations with China. Sahin said the two countries have much in common and have cooperated smoothly in administration and human resources development.

In another meeting, Wen told Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi that China places great stock in Sino-Malaysian relations. China will work with Malaysia to consolidate and develop their friendship.

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who arrived in Beijing on Sunday afternoon for a five-day official visit, also held talks with Vice-Premier Huang Ju.

Huang said the leaders of China and Malaysia have maintained frequent contact. The two countries have cooperated in economic, scientific, educational and other fields, he said.

Malaysia has become China's largest trading partner within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

(China Daily September 16, 2003)