Beijing: Injecting a new impetus to the growth of Sino-Russia ties, Chinese President Jiang Zemin and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin signed a joint statement and witnessed inking of several agreements, including a treaty on transfer of convicts between the two countries.

Putin, who arrived in China on December 2 for a two-day visit, held wide-ranging talks on bilateral, regional and international issues with Jiang.

Officials from the two sides signed a treaty on the transfer of convicts between the two nations, a protocol on the agreement on establishing the regular meeting mechanism between Chinese and Russian Premiers and its organisational principles signed on June 27, 1997.

They also signed an agreement on co-operation between China's Public Security Ministry and Russia's Federal Service of Tax Police to fight tax-related and other economic crimes.

After holding talks with Putin, Jiang told reporters that China and Russia will be good neighbours, friends and partners.

"China and Russia will continue their efforts to ensure the implementation of strategic concepts such as those contained in the Sino-Russian good-neighbourly treaty of friendship and co-operation under the new situation for the continuous growth of bilateral ties," Jiang was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua news agency.

Jiang described his talks with Putin as "rich in content" and said he and Putin "fully summarised the smooth evolution of Sino-Russian relationship over past decade and laid out a blueprint for future of bilateral ties."

The two heads of state also had "an in-depth exchange of views on the current international and regional situation and reached broad consensus", Jiang said.

Earlier, during their talks, Putin extended his congratulations to the successful conclusion of the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, commending it "not only a major event in China's political life, but a major event in the international arena".

The Sino-Russia relations have "reached a quite high level," he said, noting Russia is willing to co-operate with China so as to usher bilateral ties into a new phase.

Prior to the talks, Jiang, also chairman of the Central Military Commission, hosted a grand welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People for Putin.

Apart from senior Chinese officials, Putin's wife Lyudmila Putina, security council secretary Vladimir Rushailo, Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Borisovich Khristenko and Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, attended the ceremony.

Putin will also meet other Chinese leaders, including Vice President Hu Jintao who was last month elected as the general secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China.

The Russian President will also meet Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji as well as top legislator Li Peng.

On December 3 he will address students at the Beijing University and have a tour to the Great Wall before leaving for India as part of his two-nation Asian tour.

PTI