Chinese, Russian Presidents Hold Official Talks

Home>>China

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, December 04, 2002

Chinese, Russian Presidents Hold Official Talks

Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Russian President Vladimir Putin held official talks Monday morning, during which they exchanged views on bilateral ties and major international and regional issues of common concern.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Jiang, Putin Hold Official Talks

Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Russian President Vladimir Putin held official talks Monday morning.

China and Russia will continue their efforts to ensure the implementation of strategic concepts such as those contained in the China-Russia good-neighborly treaty of friendship and cooperation under the new situation for the continuous growth of bilateral ties, said Jiang.

Jiang described his talks with Putin as "rich in content" and said that he and Putin "fully summarized the smooth evolution of the Sino-Russian relationship over the past decade and laid out a blueprint for the future of bilateral ties"

The two heads of state also had "an in-depth exchange of views on the current international and regional situation and reached broad consensus," he said.

Jiang hosts ceremony to welcome Russian president

Putin extended his congratulations to the successful conclusion of the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, commending it "not only a major event in China's political life, but a major event in the international arena."

The Russia-China relations have "reached a quite high level," he said, noting Russia is willing to cooperate with China so as to usher bilateral ties into a new phase.

Jiang and Putin also signed a joint statement and attend the signing ceremony of other bilateral cooperative documents after the talks.

Mutual trust cornerstone of Sino-Russian ties

During the meeting, President Jiang hailed the development of Sino-Russian relations in the past decade, saying mutual political trust is the cornerstone of bilateral ties.

Jiang said Sino-Russian ties had progressed through three stages in the past ten years.

China and Russia initially treated each other as friendly countries, then vowed to build a constructive partnership, and finally agreed to set up a strategic partnership of cooperation, according to Jiang.

All these achievements were demonstrated in the China-Russia treaty of friendship and cooperation signed last year, Jiang said.

The two nations already had regular and institutional high-level contacts, had rapidly developed trade and economic cooperation and had close consultation and coordination on international affairs, he said.

Jiang attributed their success to five factors.

Mutual political trust was the cornerstone, he said. China and Russia had abided by the idea of "friends forever and never enemies" in the friendship and cooperation treaty.

"Thanks to the high degree of mutual political trust, bilateral relations have developed to the current good situation," he said.

He said it was also important for both countries to have a strategic and long-term perspective in building the Sino-Russian relationship.

He said institutionalized and close high-level exchanges ensured prompt solutions to new situations and problems.

Jiang said that the sound development of bilateral ties could also be attributed to mutual respect, mutual compromise, mutual consideration of the other's rational interests, and seeking acceptable solutions to problems through negotiation.

The establishment of a new security concept based on mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and coordination enabled the two countries to build up military trust and disarmament along their common borders, Jiang said. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, jointly initiated by China and Russia, allowed the two countries to have a peaceful neighboring environment conducive to the domestic economic construction of each, Jiang said.

Sino-Russian partnership key to peace, stability

Close strategic cooperation between China and Russia is a major factor in maintaining and promoting world peace and stability, President Jiang said.

He said China and Russia should be even more active in advancing the process of the world's multipolarization and the democratization of international relations.

The two countries appealed to all other nations to develop a new concept of security based on mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and co-ordination, he said, adding that Russia and China would contribute more still to peace and development of the humanity.

Jiang said peace and development remained the theme of the times. Multipolarization of the world and economic globalization were progressing in a zigzagging way.

On the other hand, he noted, the unfair, irrational international political and economic order of the past was yet to be fundamentally altered. Sporadic wars, tensions and unrest succeeded each other as different gaps widened further. Such non-traditional security issues as terrorism became increasingly prominent.

Jiang said the international community should join hands to reduce confrontation and increase dialogue, to reduce arrogance and prejudice and increase exchanges and communication so as to achieve common development and progress.

China firmly supports Russia's anti-terrorism efforts

The Chinese President said that China firmly supports the just anti-terrorism actions launched by Russia. The war against terrorism was a common issue for the international community and also an arduous task for China and Russia, Jiang said.

The hostage crisis in a Moscow theater which was occupied by Chechen terrorists in late October, he added, once again demonstrated the grave danger of terrorism.

China and Russia had carried out multi-faceted and effective cooperation against terrorism with successful results, he said, adding such efforts should be further strengthened, Jiang said.

President Putin thanked the Chinese side for its valued support in the fight against terrorism. Russia would as always further strengthen consultations, negotiations and cooperation between the two countries and make concerted efforts to maintain world peace, he said.

Moreover, Putin noted, Russia and China shared identical or similar views and stances on the international situation and other major global issues.

Jiang: Hu can Have Good Working Relations with Putin

Jiang Zemin said he believed Hu Jintao, his successor as head of the Communist Party of China (CPC), will soon form good working relations with Putin.

He said the 16th National Congress of the CPC last month had elected a new central committee, or the leading body of the CPC, thus realizing the smooth transition of leadership from the old to the new.

He said the closer cooperation between the two leaders would further consolidate and deepen the Sino-Russian strategic partnership of cooperation.

Putin expressed his congratulations on the successful conclusion of the National Congress, saying it was an important event in China's political life as well as in the world political arena.

He said Russia wholeheartedly wished and firmly believed that the lofty goals set in the congress could be realized.

Russia would join with the new Chinese leaders in pushing forward good-neighborly, friendly and cooperative relations, Putin said.

Putin Confident of Still Better Russia-China Ties

Putin said that he was confident of a bright future for Sino-Russian relations. The relations between Russia and China were of great significance, which would always take priority in Russia's foreign policy.

Putin said he absolutely agreed with President Jiang's summary for the successful growth of bilateral ties over the past decade, as well as Jiang's suggestions on the further promotion of bilateral ties.

Russia and China had always fostered a friendly and cooperative relationship which was marked by past gratifying achievements in political, economic relations and trade, scientific, technological, cultural and other sectors, he said.

He added that the two countries had also coordinated and cooperated very well in international affairs.

"All these achievements enable us to be fully confident of a bright future for Russia-China relations," he said.

Putin also expressed his belief that more achievements in bilateral cooperation would be made next year thanks to concerted efforts by both sides.

Welcome ceremony

Jiang hosted a ceremony to welcome Russian President Vladimir Putin.

After a military band played the national anthems of Russia and China, Jiang accompanied Putin to inspect the guards of honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

Chinese officials who were present at the ceremony included Vice Premier Qian Qichen, Vice-Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee Tomur Dawamat, Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Song Jian, Chairwoman of the Revolutionary Committee ofthe Chinese Kuomingtang Central Committee He Luli, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, Education Minister Chen Zhili, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Shi Guangsheng.

Putin's wife Lyudmila Putina, Security Council Secretary Vladimir Rushailo, Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Borisovich Khristenko, Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, attended the ceremony.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Russia, China March on Path of Partnership and Coordination

Full Text of Putin's Interview with Chinese Reporters

Putin: China is Key Partner of Russia

>> Full Coverage

Cabbage Tells Changes of Beijingers' Life ( 12 Messages)

A 'Xiaokang' Society Means Not Merely Money ( 5 Messages)

China Starts Working out Law on Citizen ID Card ( 33 Messages)

Differences between US and NATO Widen: Opinion ( 2 Messages)

Sino-US Relations Improve Despite Neo-realism ( 27 Messages)