Premier Wen
Jiabao met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on
Wednesday to discuss bilateral relations and major international
issues.
Wen, who arrived earlier yesterday to attend the
4th Meeting of Prime Ministers of the Member States of the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization, said China-Russia ties have been
consolidated and have registered new development this year.
The two countries have started a consultation
mechanism on strategic security, approved a border agreement,
issued a joint statement on international order in the new century
and held a joint military exercise, Wen said.
Putin said the Russia-China strategic partnership
is a close, long-term relationship and an important factor in
international politics. He added it is also the most important and
a priority direction in Russia's foreign policy.
Russia hopes both sides can maintain the high level
of mutual trust and further develop this relationship, Putin
said.
Wen said bilateral cooperation in economy, trade,
energy and technology has been fruitful, and they have offered firm
support to each other on issues concerning national sovereignty,
territorial integrity and national security.
Both China and Russia are at an important stage of
development, and establishing and developing a strategic
partnership is the right choice, said Wen.
It is a wish shared by the two peoples that their
countries remain sincere friends, good neighbors and cooperating
partners, Wen said, adding it is in the interests of both countries
and their peoples.
The strategic partnership is not targeted at any
third party, he said, but is devoted to establishing a diverse,
just and reasonable new international political and economic order,
ultimately conducive to global peace and development.
Wen stressed China and Russia should look at
bilateral ties from a strategic and long-term perspective and
continue to push forward the strategic partnership.
Wen expressed the hope that existing agreements can
be well implemented and that the two countries can sign an
investment protection agreement at an early date.
Putin said the two countries should optimize trade
structures, provide convenient market access, boost import of
electromechanical and high-tech products and expand cooperation in
energy, investment and production.
(Xinhua News Agency October 27, 2005)