Chinese President Hu Jintao accepted Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's invitation to visit Russia in 2009, according to a joint communique issued in Beijing on Saturday.

The Sino-Russian joint communique on the meeting between the two heads of state was made public after Medvedev's first visit to China since he was sworn in on May 7.

The two sides pointed in the communique to the unprecedented high level of the bilateral strategic and cooperative partnership, and their determination to give priority to the development of a long-term, steady partnership.

They agreed to continue bilateral cooperation in energy, science, information, transportation, finance, environmental protection, education, health, culture, sports and tourism.

They also expressed satisfaction with the demarcation work on two parts of the eastern section of the China-Russia border, and their opposition to politicizing the Olympics.

The Russian side reiterated its position on the Taiwan question, acknowledging that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and it opposes "Taiwan independence" in any form or Taiwan's participation in the United Nations and other international organizations whose membership requires sovereign states.

The Russian side stated that Tibet is an inalienable part of China's territory and it supports the Chinese side's measures taken in accordance with the law to safeguard social stability in Tibet as it is China's internal affair.

The Russian side will continue to provide necessary assistance to China's quake-stricken area, according to the communique.

Medvedev arrived in Beijing on Friday afternoon for a two-day state visit as Hu's guest. He is the first head of state to pay a state visit to China after the devastating May 12 earthquake.

(Xinhua News Agency May 24, 2008)