Chinese and Russian foreign ministries signed in Moscow on Thursday a consultation plan for 2008, mapping out the priorities in the development of bilateral cooperation.

Chinese Ambassador to Russia Liu Guchang and Russian First Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Denisov inked the agreement on behalf of their ministries at the debut ceremony of a review on bilateral cooperation agreements that were signed from 1999 to 2007.

The senior diplomats hailed the development of bilateral ties in recent years, particularly the successful national theme years that were held respectively in the two countries in 2006 and 2007.

They also spoke highly of the publishing of the book, saying it illustrated the legal basis for bilateral cooperation and will contribute to the growth of bilateral ties.

(Xinhua News Agency February 22, 2008)