Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing told Russian press that China supports its companies to conduct energy cooperation with Russian counterparts.

 

"The Chinese government supports Chinese companies to cooperate with Russian enterprises through various ways including investment to jointly explore the oil and gas field in Russia's eastern Siberia and Far East," Li said in a written interview with Russia press posted yesterday on the Foreign Ministry's website.

 

Li said the presidents of the two countries and the two governments have reached consensus, on many occasions, to support enterprises of both sides to conduct cooperation on the exploration.

 

He said energy cooperation is an important cooperative field between China and Russia and the two countries are highly complementary in the field.

 

He said energy cooperation between the two countries is currently developing positively after years of efforts, while hoping both sides would continue the cooperation with the principle of mutual benefit and trust to achieve a win-win result.

 

On global energy safety and the upcoming G8 summit in Russia, Li said China supports Russia's proposal of listing the energy safety issue as one of the key topics of the summit.

 

He said China supports Russia to play an important role in promoting international cooperation in the field of energy.

 

He also expressed his hope that all the participants of the summit would play constructive role in promoting global energy safety and boosting sustainable development.

 

No major obstacles in China-Russia relations

 

Li said there are no major problems and obstacles between China and Russia after both sides settled their border disputes last year following four decades of negotiations.

 

"China-Russia relations have developed rapidly and the two countries have increased their mutual understanding," he said.

 

On the events of the "Year of Russia" in China scheduled for 2006 and the "Year of China" in Russia for 2007, Li said the "National Year" event is the first of its kind in the history of China-Russia relations and is the major step toward implementing their treaty of neighborly friendship.

 

Chinese and Russian presidents will jointly attend the opening ceremony of the "Year of Russia" during Russian President Vladimir Putin's upcoming visit to China from March 21 to 22.

 

Li hailed China-Russia trade cooperation, saying bilateral trade volume hit US$29.1 billion in 2005, up 37.1 percent year-on-year. The good momentum is expected to lay a solid foundation to meet the goal of US$60-80 billion in trade by 2010.

 

In response to a question on bilateral military cooperation, Li said China and Russia share a 4,300-km-long border and will develop long-term and stable neighborly friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation.

 

Both China and Russia follow the principle of non-alignment, non-antagonism and not targeting a third country, which benefit peace, security and stability in the region and the world at large, he said.

 

China will work with SCO members to curb terror threat

 

Li said China will work closely with the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to crack down on the rising terror threat in Central Asia.

 

"Terrorist activities were dealt heavily in the region after the September 11 incident, but they are now on the rise and threaten security and stability there," he said.

 

The SCO is the first international organization to hold the flag of fighting terrorism, he said, adding: "It is the SCO's major task to enhance security cooperation and create a secure environment for social and economic development."

 

The SCO has done a lot to curb terrorism, including establishing institutions, enacting legal documents and holding joint exercises, he said.

 

The SCO, established in 2001, groups Russia, China and four Central Asian states -- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The SCO summit is scheduled for June in Shanghai.

 

China making 'patient', 'ongoing' efforts to resume six-party talks

 

Li said China is making "patient" and "ongoing" efforts for the resumption of the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue.

 

"China is now keeping contact and consultation with the parties concerned in a bid to restart the talks as soon as possible," he said.

 

He urged the parties concerned to continue peaceful talks with flexible and pragmatic attitude, take action to enhance trust and make all out efforts to implement the joint statement.

 

"This is significant for the peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia and serves the common interests of all parties," he said.

 

The six parties adopted a joint statement in September 2005 at the end of the fourth round of talks. The talks have been staled since the first phase of the fifth round ended last November.

 

China prefers negotiations to sanctions in tackling Iran nuclear issue

 

Li reiterated that China prefers negotiations to sanctions in tackling the Iranian nuclear issue.

 

"Negotiations are more effective than sanctions as far as the Iranian nuclear issue is concerned," he said.

 

When asked to comment on Russia's role on the issue, including its proposal that allows for Iranian uranium enrichment activities within Russian territories, Li said China supports all efforts to resolve the issue through negotiations.

 

"Under the current situation, Russia's suggestion is a good attempt to break the stalemate," he said, adding that China hopes the Iran-Russia negotiation will make progress at an early date.

 

China, which opposes nuclear proliferation and hopes for no new turbulence in the Middle East, maintains that the Iranian nuclear issue can be properly handled through diplomatic means and negotiation, he said.

 

"There is still a room for diplomatic mediation, thus all parties concerned should step up efforts," he said.

 

Li said China hopes Iran will cooperate more with the International Atomic Energy Agency and take measures to enhance mutual trust, which will help create conditions for the early settlement of the issue.

 

Top foreign ministry officials of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany met in New York yesterday to plot long-term strategy on how to tackle the Iranian nuclear crisis.

 

Li called for all parties concerned to show restraint and patience, and avoid any move that may complicate the situation.

 

"China is keeping close contact with the parties concerned and playing a constructive role in settling the nuclear issue through diplomatic means," he said.

 

China hoping to enhance cooperation with Russia on Middle East issue

 

Li said China hopes to further cooperate with Russia in promoting peace and stability in the Middle East.

 

"China and Russia are close on the Middle East issue and have kept good cooperation and coordination," he said.

 

When asked to comment on Russia's dialogue with the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), Li said Russia had tried to persuade Hamas to transform itself into a political party, follow the path of peace and dialogue, recognize Israel and accept the agreements already reached.

 

"China backs Russia's diplomatic efforts in that regard," he said.

 

Li also urged Palestine and Israel to abide by the relevant UN resolutions and the principle of "land for peace" and resolve disputes through negotiation to achieve peaceful coexistence.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 21, 2006)