China and Russia pledged to strengthen cooperation in the fields
of culture, education and environment so as to enhance mutual
political trust, according to a Sino-Russian joint statement issued
on Monday.
The cooperation in the area of humanity between the two nations
is vital to cementing the social foundation of their strategic
partnership of cooperation, said the statement signed by Russian
President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Hu Jintao, who
arrived in Moscow Monday for a state visit.
Therefore, the two nations will strive to tighten ties on
education, culture, health, tourism, sports, mass media and
archives management, and to encourage extensive participation of
people from all walks of life.
The Sino-Russian cooperation in environmental protection has
made remarkable and satisfactory progress, according to the
statement.
Under the mechanism of regular meetings between the premiers of
China and Russia, sub-committees on environmental protection have
been established and working groups of water quality surveillance
for trans-boundary rivers have also been set up, it said.
Pollution prevention and treatment, bio-diversity and water
quality surveillance for trans-boundary waters are the priorities
of the two nations in their environmental cooperation.
Cooperation in immigration is also progressing steadily. The two
countries will continue their efforts in combat against illegal
immigrants and will take effective measures to promote the
people-to-people contacts between the two sides, added the
statement.
(Xinhua News Agency March 27, 2007)