"Medvedev's visit demonstrated the importance Russia attaches to its relations with China, as well as its willingness to continue to pursue ‘good neighborly' relations with China," said Chen Yurong, Director of the Department for SCO Studies at the China Institute of International Studies.

Moreover, as two of the world's major powers, China and Russia could jointly play a role in shaping a just, equitable international order, she said.

In a joint statement signed by Hu and Medvedev, China and Russia spelled out their views on current international issues, such as international security, economic globalization, antiterrorism, energy, climate change, sustainable development and East Asian integration.

China and Russia are ready to promote economic globalization in a balanced, universally beneficial and win-win direction, the statement says.

The two countries consider sustainable development an important field for international cooperation, it says. They call on countries around the world to protect natural resources, preserve biological diversity and build an environmentally friendly and energy-saving society.

They also underline the need to stabilize international energy markets through dialogue and coordination. China and Russia stand for shaping a mutually beneficial and cooperative new energy security concept and speeding up the research and adoption of new technology for environmental protection, the statement says.

Both countries maintain that developed countries should provide financial and technological support to developing countries to enhance developing nations' capabilities to deal with climate change, it says.

Toward a better trade mix

With regard to trade problems, Ji said it was natural for China and Russia to encounter some problems as they seek to advance their relations. China had a trade deficit with Russia for more than a decade. In 2007, however, it registered a trade surplus of more than $8 billion, rousing Russia's concern, he said.

Also, the proportion of machinery and electrical products of Russia's total exports to China is declining-another source of concern for Russia. The country was eager to export more products with high added value to China, rather than just raw materials such as wood, oil, coal and mineral resources, Ji said.

In their joint communiqué, Hu and Medvedev pledged to raise the proportion of machinery and electrical products in their trade mix, increase mutual investment and promote the balanced development of bilateral trade. They also agreed to explore the potential for cooperation in the two countries' border areas and between their local regions.

Chen said the trade imbalance was the norm in international trade today and should be approached from an economic perspective.

"China has shown great sincerity to improve the China-Russia trade mix," she said. "The Chinese Government does not pursue a trade surplus; instead, it encourages Chinese companies to import more from Russia. It is equally important that Russian companies make their electrical products more competitive, so that they secure a niche in the Chinese market."