Putin says China-Russia relations at highest level

MOSCOW  -- China-Russia relations are at their highest level in history, President Vladimir Putin said here on Thursday.

"Our relations have became one of the most important factors in the international affairs," Putin said while answering a question from Xinhua during his annual press conference.

Russia looks forward to developing joint projects in areas such as big-hull civilian aircraft manufacturing, Putin said, adding that bilateral cooperation in investment and finance were also very promising.

For example, the two sides have agreed that some part of their bilateral trade would be conducted in national currencies, Putin said.

It was Putin's eighth large conference as president and the first since his return to the Kremlin this May. In 2008, he answered nearly 100 questions in the marathon press event.