Chinese, Russian FMs Issue Joint Statement

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, January 08, 2002

Chinese, Russian FMs Issue Joint Statement

Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan and Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov issued a joint statement on the Indian-Pakistani situation Monday, which calls for a political settlement to the current crisis through diplomatic efforts.

Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan and Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov issued a joint statement on the Indian-Pakistani situation Monday.

The statement says that China and Russia are deeply concerned about the escalating tension between India and Pakistan.

China and Russia express strong indignation over the terrorist incident in New Delhi on December 13, 2001, and resolutely condemnterrorism in any form, the statement says.

China and Russia hold that it is in the fundamental interest ofboth India and Pakistan and conducive to peace and stability in the South Asian Region for India and Pakistan to show restraint and prevent the situation from further deteriorating.

China and Russia call on India and Pakistan to find a politicalsettlement to the current crisis through diplomatic efforts.

China and Russia hold that a solution acceptable to both India and Pakistan will also facilitate the mediation process after the Afghanistan conflict.

China and Russia will continue to make efforts for the realization of the above-mentioned goals, the statement says.

President Jiang: Sino-Russian Ties Will Grow

Chinese President Jiang Zemin said in Beijing Monday that the bilateral ties between China and Russia will develop in the new year.

Jiang made the remarks in his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, who was here to attend the one-day meeting of foreign ministers from the six-member Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Jiang said that in the new year he would maintain close contactwith Russian President Vladimir Putin for the implementation of the bilateral treaty on good-neighborliness and friendship signed last year, increase political mutual trust, strengthen economic and trade cooperation, and enhance bilateral strategic coordination in the international arena for global strategic stability and world peace.

In reviewing bilateral ties in 2001, Jiang said that both sides"have carried out many practical actions and achieved great results." He particularly commended the treaty, the fast-growing trade between the two countries, the new phase of their political mutual trust and their closer strategic coordination.

He said that the growth of Sino-Russian relations is not only in the interests of the two nations, but also important for peace and development in the world as a whole.

China's Diplomatic Efforts on Indian-Pakistan Issue

Tang, Powell Exchange Views on Indian-Pakistan Tension

Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan and US Secretary of State Colin Powell exchanged views on India-Pakistan tension through phone on January 3, 2002. Powell stressed that US will strive to persuade the two sides to keep restraint. Tang said the Chinese side has been persuading India and Pakistan to take measures to avoid the further deterioration of the situation.

Chinese Premier, Pakistani President on Pakistan-India Tension

It is in the fundamental interests of both Pakistan and India that the two countries keep maximum restraint and safeguard peace and stability in the south Asian region, said Premier Zhu Rongji on January 3 in a meeting with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, who was in Beijing in transit to Nepalese capital Kathmandu.

FM Spokeswoman on Clashes Between India, Pakistan

Jiang Zemin Calls for Regional Anti-Terrorism Mechanism Between SCO

SCO Vows to Fight Against Terrorism: Statement