With the objective of further promoting their bilateral
strategic partnership of coordination through non-governmental
channels China and Russia yesterday launched friendly strategic
talks.
The first meeting, co-sponsored by the China Association for
International Friendly Contacts and the Russian Institute of
Security, National Defense and Justice, was attended by
approximately 50 experts and scholars from both countries to
discuss strategic issues on regional security, anti-terrorism and
energy cooperation.
Li Guixian, vice chairman of the National Committee of the
Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top advisory body and Mihail
Nikolaev, vice chairman of the Russian Federation Council, attended
this first meeting.
Li said non-governmental exchanges played an important role in
improving international relations. The launch of the friendly
strategic dialogue would enrich the China-Russia strategic
partnership of coordination and give it fresh meaning. "It's
conducive to increasing friendship and mutual trust between the two
nations and contributes to the sound and stable development of
bilateral relations," Li observed.
Nikolaev said Russia and China had cooperated very well in
political, economic, military and cultural fields, setting a fine
model of good relationships for other countries of the world to
follow. The dialogue was sure to help the two countries better
understand each other, Nikolaev added.
The dialogue is part of the "Year of Russia in China" program
that is designed to further bilateral friendship through various
organized events.
China, Russia to stage military programs next
year
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) announced yesterday
that China and Russia will hold military cooperation programs next
year, including a joint exercise. "There'll be eight military
cooperative items next year -- the 'Year of China in Russia',"
said Zhang Qinsheng, assistant to the chief of the PLA's General
Staff.
Zhang leads the military group of the Chinese organizing
committee for the "Year of Russia in China" and the "Year of China
in Russia." The two countries will hold a joint military exercise
in Russia under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization, Zhang said. The comments were made by Zhang in an
interview with the official website for the two "national
years."
Next year Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan will visit Russia and
PLA Navy Commander Zhang Dingfa will lead a naval fleet to the
country. Chinese officers will display parachute techniques in
Moscow.
PLA representatives will participate in a road show and an art
exhibition will be organized to display the friendly exchanges
between the two armed forces. Programs on the PLA's modernization
will be aired on Russian television. And Chinese and Russian
journalists will visit the border between the two countries by
road.
Zhang said the programs scheduled for this year included Russian
Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov's visit
and a Russian naval command's visit to China.
(Xinhua News Agency September 29, 2006)