Marked progress has been made in the strategic partnership between Russia and China in recent years, with bilateral cooperation yielding tangible results, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Russia and China are now clear of any major political issue that might trouble bilateral relations, this favorable situation enables both sides to concentrate on developing their ties in wide-ranging fields, Mikhail Kamynin, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, said in a recent statement.

Kamynin described the bilateral ties between Russia and China as "irreversible."

The first joint military exercise, code-named Peace Mission 2005, was a clear manifestation of the high-level mutual trust and understanding between the two countries and it highlighted the new level of cooperation in the Russia-China strategic partnership, Kamynin said.

The joint maneuver also demonstrated that the two countries have joined hands in tackling new threats and challenges, safeguarding their national interests and territorial integrity and working together to shape a new, fair and multi-polar world, he said.

On the two countries' economic cooperation, Kamynin said that Russia expects Chinese investment to enter its processing sector first, in particular the agribusinesses, timber and fishing processing industries.

The two sides can also cooperate in large infrastructure projects like highways, bridges, and modernization of existing ports, he said, adding that Russia's special economic zones will work well in attracting Chinese investors.

Bilateral trade is expected to hit US$27 billion this year, Kamynin said. The current priority of the two countries is to shift the focus from trade to cooperation in production, mutual investment and joint research and development of advanced technologies, he said.

Kamynin listed energy equipment, civil aviation, ecology, energy saving and information technologies as potential areas of joint work.

(Xinhua News Agency October 31, 2005)