Zhang Cites Broad Prospects for Sino-Russian Ties 　　Vice-Foreign Minister Zhang Deguang said that this year will be an extremely important year for the development of Sino-Russian relations, with Premier Zhu Rongji set to visit Russia next month and a possible meeting between the two heads of state later in the year. 　　Premier Zhu and his Russian counterpart Yevgeny Primakov are expected to hold the fourth regular meeting between the prime ministers of the two countries during the former's visit to Russia, said Zhang in an exclusive interview with Xinhua News Agency. 　　Zhang will leave for Moscow later today to attend the second session of Sino-Russian Committee for Friendship, Peace and Development established in 1997 during the summit between Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Russian President Boris Yeltsin. 　　The major tasks of the committee include regularly assessing Sino-Russian relations and various government proposals concerning bilateral ties. The committee is also responsible for coordinating exchanges between non-governmental organizations in the two nations. 　　Zhang added that Chinese and Russian committee members come from all walks of life. The committee sponsors a variety of bilateral exchanges, including academic symposiums, cultural and art festivals, exhibitions, movie festivals and publications to introduce the latest situations in the two countries. 　　Zhang noted smooth development of Sino-Russian relations in various fields in recent years. For example, President Jiang Zemin and President Yeltsin held their sixth summit in Moscow last November and the two sides signed six joint statements. The two countries have completed the demarcation of eastern and western borders, and agreed to continue talks to settle issues involving remaining disputed areas. 　　The fact that China, Russia and three central Asian nations have signed agreements on increasing military trust and disarmament in border areas is of major significance for maintaining regional peace and stability, according to Zhang. 　　China and Russia are building a cooperative strategic partnership quite different from allied ties between China and the Soviet Union in the 1950s and from ties between the major powers during the Cold War era. 　　The nonaligned partnership between China and Russia is based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and is not directed at any third country, said Zhang, adding that establishment of the partnership will promote world peace and balanced development of the international pattern. 　　Zhang expressed a level of dissatisfaction with current Sino-Russian economic cooperation, noting the fact that last year's bilateral trade volume was only US$5 billion "fails to match the potential which exists for cooperation between the two large neighboring countries". 　　He suggested that the two countries should expand economic links in accordance with market rules. Zhang stressed that China and Russia could enhance bilateral cooperation in the economy and technology, including high-tech and new technology, and could at the same time increase mutual investments to explore new areas for the growth of bilateral economic cooperation. 　　Zhang expressed his conviction that joint efforts will further promote economic and trade ties between China and Russia. 　　The vice-foreign minister concluded that the healthy development of Sino-Russian ties will play an important and positive role in promoting multi-polarization and establishing a just and rational international political and economic order. HomeNews 1999-01-26 Page4 Full Story in Chinese