Chinese President Hu Jintao also met with representatives of Russian war veterans who helped China battle Japanese troops in the World Anti-Fascist War.

The Chinese president arrived in Moscow on Saturday to attend ceremonies marking the 65th anniversary of Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War over Nazi Germany.

Hours after arriving, the Chinese president met with a group of Russian war veterans. He expressed gratitude to them for their assistance in fighting the Japanese invaders in northeast China in 1945.

Hu Jintao said that many Russian soldiers and citizens sacrificed their lives for the liberation of the Chinese people, and that the Chinese people would never forget the contributions made by the Soviet Red Army to the success of China's Anti-Japanese War.

He said through fighting together in the anti-fascist war, the Chinese and Russian people forged a profound friendship.

Hu Jintao noted the friendship has laid a solid foundation for the development of the China-Russia strategic partnership of cooperation.It also ensures that the friendly ties between the two nations would last from generation to generation. He calls on the two peoples to cherish the hard-won peace.

On Sunday, the Chinese President will join other state leaders for a huge parade on Moscow's Red Square and wreath-laying ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

He Jintao will stay in Russia until May 9th as the guest of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.