Zhu's Visit to Promote Sino-Russian Relations 　　Premier Zhu Rongji will pay an official visit to Russia at the invitation of Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov from February 24-27 with the two leaders set to hold their 4th regular meeting. 　　Observers note that Premier Zhu's first visit to Russia and first meeting with Prime Minister Primakov will add fresh vitality to the healthy and steady growth of a 21st century strategic partnership between China and Russia. 　　As is known to all, bilateral relations between the two nations advanced steadily in recent years after weathering decades of trials and hardships. 　　Experts acknowledge that the decision to establish a strategic partnership for the 21st century was made in April 1996. They note that the establishment and development of a new type of state-to-state relations based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence will proceed on the basis of a historic decision the two sides reached after summarizing both lessons and experiences related to the development of bilateral ties. 　　New relationships characterized by nonalignment, the avoidance of confrontations and non-directing against any third nation comply fully with the ardent wishes and fundamental interests of the people in both countries and the worldwide post-Cold War trend toward peace, stability and development. 　　The experts also note that the remarkable achievements scored through cooperation in the political, economic, trade, cultural, and scientific and technological arenas, as well as in international affairs have effectively defined the great vitality of the new-type state relations. 　　China and Russia have established mechanisms for an exchange of visits by heads of state, regular meetings between prime ministers and regular talks between foreign ministers in order to ensure the sustained, steady and healthy development of bilateral relations. 　　Leaders from the two nations have met six times over the past six years and more, with Chinese and Russian prime ministers holding talks on three occasions since December 1996 following the establishment of a regular meeting mechanism. 　　Related meetings have effectively promoted cooperation and strengthened relations in every sphere. 　　However, observers have pointed out that some problems in various fields, including economic cooperation and trade issues, have aroused concern on both sides. 　　Last year's bilateral trade volume was merely over US$5 billion, a level which both sides considered far from satisfactory. 　　The two sides will explore ways to open new areas of growth in bilateral trade and economic cooperation during Premier Zhu's visit. 　　Moreover, veteran experts hold that the sound foundation for the further growth of trade and economic cooperation is based on the fact that China and Russia have long been major long-term trade partners. 　　"Sino-Russian trade relations will continue to grow as long as the two sides engage in a concerted effort to diversify the mode of related activities in accordance with international norms, especially in terms of accelerating regional economic and trade cooperation and refining the legal environment," according to one expert. HomeNews 1999-02-24 Page4 Full Story in Chinese