President Hu Meets with Russian PM on Bilateral Ties

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, May 29, 2003

President Hu Meets with Russian PM on Bilateral Ties

Chinese President Hu Jintao met with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov in Moscow on Wednesday for talks on Sino-Russian relations, particularly economic ties. Hu said that expanding economic cooperation between the two countries is an important element in deepening the Sino-Russian strategic partnership of cooperation.

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Hu meets with Russian PM on bilateral ties

Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao met with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov Wednesday for talks on Sino-Russian relations, particularly economic ties.

Hu said that expanding economic cooperation between the two countries is an important element in deepening the Sino-Russian strategic partnership of cooperation.

To strengthen bilateral economic cooperation, the Chinese side proposes to elevate the level of cooperation on the basis of mutual benefit and trust, with large-scale economic and technological joint projects leading the efforts, Hu said.

Stepped-up efforts are needed to carry out major joint projects in hand and more projects should be launched in the high-tech sector and other areas, the Chinese president added.

Hu told Kasyanov that the two sides also need to further open markets to each other, standardize trade transactions and offer support for access of goods, services and capital to each other's market.

China and Russia should always resort to friendly consultations in resolving new problems that might arise from economic cooperation, Hu said.

Kasyanov said he is satisfied with the achievements and positive trend of Russian-Chinese economic and trade cooperation in recent years.

The bilateral economic and trade ties are of strategic importance, Kasyanov said, adding that Russia agrees with Hu's proposals in this regard.

Russia will work closely with China on the existing joint projects and hopes to diversify its exports to China, he said.

Hu said the regular meeting mechanism for the two countries' heads of government, which started in 1996, has been effective in deepening mutual understanding and trust, exploring new ways and areas of cooperation, and elevating the level of cooperation. Both sides need to give full play to the meeting mechanism to promote bilateral ties, he said.

In a speech delivered earlier Wednesday at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, Hu spoke highly of those Russian friends who had contributed to the development of Sino-Russian ties. He expressed his confidence, and remarked that he was hopeful for the future of continued friendly and co-operative relations.

Hu put forward several proposals for the expansion of the Sino-Russian strategic co-operative partnership. The suggestions included strengthening mutual support and mutual political trust, expanding mutually beneficial economic co-operation, exploring wider channels for friendly exchanges and maintaining close co-ordination in the international arena.

Hu's speech was met with repeated rounds of warm applause by his audience.A keen interest was shown by those from a variety of Russian circles in further strengthening the strategic co-operative partnership with China.

The Chinese leader said in his speech that China and Russia, as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, bore a weighty responsibility forpeace, stability and global security.

"We advocate a multipolar world. The important role of UN and its security should be given in settling the major world issues,'' Hu said.

"The Chinese people are ready to step up co-operation with the people of Russia and other countries so as to make the world peaceful, prosperous and harmonious,'' he continued.

Also Wednesday, ahead of the third summit of the Shanghai Co-operation Organization (SCO) which begins Thursday, Hu met Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev.

In June 2001, China, Russia and four central Asian countries (Kazakhtan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) set up the SCO, with the aim of maintaining regional peace, security and stability, and contributing to the establishment of a new and just political and economic order in the world.

Since its foundation the SCO has pursued an active co-operation policy on the international scene. It has touched upon problems of international and regional issues such as terrorism, separatism and extremism.

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