Putin and Hu Find Common Ground on Korea and Iraq

President Hu Jintao forged common ground with Russia Tuesday over North Korea and Iraq, as he launched a foreign trip intended to repair Beijing's image after the SARS outbreak.

Hu and Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose country has been gripped by alarm at the spread of SARS but has yet to report a single confirmed case, discussed efforts to combat the virus, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

A statement signed by Hu and Putin after Kremlin talks also declared their determination to strengthen cooperation in large-scale energy projects, including building a huge oil pipeline linking their countries.

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