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Jiang ready to work with Putin

BEIJING: Chinese President Jiang Zemin had sent a letter to former Russian president Boris Yeltsin expressing regret at his abrupt resignation, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday.

But he expressed optimism about working with Yeltsin's hand-picked successor Vladimir Putin.

"I have got to know Acting President Putin and I am ready to establish a good working relationship with him," Jiang was quoted as saying in the letter dated Friday.

The Chinese president said he was pleased with progress in relations between the two giant neighbours.

"And I highly appreciate your historic contribution to the development of the relationship between our two countries. I am sure you will continue to care for and to promote the development of this relationship," he said.

Jiang hailed Yeltsin's "unremitting efforts" to boost China-Russian ties during his presidency. "The strategic partnership we initiated together is becoming never more consolidated under the painstaking efforts of both sides," he added.-AFP