The bilateral ties between China and Russia will develop in the new
year, said Chinese President Jiang Zemin Monday in his meeting with
Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov in Beijing.
In
the same day, Chinese FM and Russian FM issued a joint statement on
the Indian-Pakistani situation. The two called on India and
Pakistan to find a political settlement to the current crisis
through diplomatic efforts.
The bilateral ties between China and Russia will develop in the new
year, Jiang made the remarks in his meeting with Russian Foreign
Minister Igor Ivanov, who was here to attend the one-day meeting of
foreign ministers from the six-member Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO).
In
reviewing bilateral ties in 2001, Jiang said that both sides "have
carried out many practical actions and achieved great results."
He
particularly commended the treaty, the fast-growing trade between
the two countries, the new phase of their political mutual trust
and their closer strategic coordination.
Jiang said that in the new year he would maintain close contact
with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the implementation of the
bilateral treaty on good-neighborliness and friendship signed last
year, increase political mutual trust, strengthen economic and
trade cooperation, and enhance bilateral strategic coordination in
the international arena for global strategic stability and world
peace.
He
said that the growth of Sino-Russian relations is not only in the
interests of the two nations, but also important for peace and
development in the world as a whole.
Ivanov said that Putin also attaches importance to the
Russian-Chinese ties. He said that political dialogue between the
two countries proceeded smoothly and the consensus reached by the
top leaders is being implemented. Moreover, the two countries share
identical views on the maintenance of strategic stability and other
major international issues, he said.
He
believes that this year summit meetings between the top leaders
will push forward the growth of bilateral ties.
Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan and Russian Foreign Minister
Igor Ivanov issued a joint statement on the Indian-Pakistani
situation Monday.
The statement says that China and Russia are deeply concerned about
the escalating tension between India and Pakistan.
China and Russia express strong indignation over the terrorist
incident in New Delhi on December 13, 2001, and resolutely condemn
terrorism in any form, the statement says.
China and Russia hold that it is in the fundamental interest of
both India and Pakistan and conducive to peace and stability in the
South Asian Region for India and Pakistan to show restraint and
prevent the situation from further deteriorating.
China and Russia call on India and Pakistan to find a political
settlement to the current crisis through diplomatic efforts.
China and Russia hold that a solution acceptable to both India and
Pakistan will also facilitate the mediation process after the
Afghanistan conflict.
China and Russia will continue to make efforts for the realization
of the above-mentioned goals, the statement says.
(People's Daily
January 8, 2002)