Britain, Russia Vow to Work Together on Global Issues

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, June 27, 2003

Britain, Russia Vow to Work Together on Global Issues

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Britain and Russia stressed on Thursday the importance of joint efforts on global issues, including the Iraq issue, downplaying their diplomatic rift over the US-led war against Iraq, which Britain joined and Russia opposed.

Despite differences over the Iraq issue, Britain and Russia were working "enormously closely " on international terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and other issues, as well as bringing peace and stability to the world, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said at a joint press conference with visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Foreign Office.

Hailing relations with Russia as "stronger than they have been for many, many years", Blair told reporters that there was a tremendous willingness in the international community to confront common challenges and the whole world need to work together to resolve issues such as those in the Middle East.

Britain and Russia have put their differences over Iraq behind them and other countries are ready to do the same, Blair said.

Blair, who said Putin's leadership offers hope not only to Russia but to the whole world, also told reporters that during his meeting with Putin at Downing Street earlier in the day, he and Putin discussed Iraq, Iran, India and Pakistan, the Middle East peace process, domestic issues both in Britain and Russia as well as the fighting against terrorism.

Describing his meeting with Blair as "open and constructive", Putin told reporters that relations between his country and Britain have become closer, and that Russia was ready to work together with Britain on key international issues.

There were warm feelings between Russia and Britain, Putin said, stressing that the two countries have seen positive exchanges in areas such as trade and investment.

On Iraq, Putin told reporters that Russia thought ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein might have had weapons of mass destruction, urging the coalition forces in Iraq to make every effort to find out the truth.

On other international issues, Putin told reporters that he and Blair have agreed to cooperate on boosting peace in the Middle East, adding that they all agreed on the need for encouraging Iran to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over its nuclear issue.

Putin, who arrived on Tuesday to for a four-day state visit, the first of its kind by a Russian leader since 1874, was expected to leave Britain on Friday morning.

Putin and his wife Lyudmila Putina are staying at Buckingham Palace as guests of British Queen Elizabeth II.

Questions?Comments? Click here

British Queen Welcomes Putin, Seeks to Soothe Rift with Russia

Putin Heading to U.K. for State Visit

Putin Says Relations with Blair "Open, Friendly"

China Developes its First Mainboard of Notebook PC ( 2 Messages)

Chinese Patriots Against Japan's Fuss over Diaoyu Islands ( 5 Messages)

Land Desertification, Crisis in Northwest China ( 2 Messages)

From Economic Considerations to Happiness Pursuit
-A Survey of International Marriages in Shanghai ( 2 Messages)

Indian PM Wants to Write Poem for China ( 2 Messages)