Chinese President Jiang Zemin and visiting Russian President Boris Yeltsin held an informal meeting in Beijing on December 9. Both sides exchanged views on the further promotion of Sino-Russian friendship and cooperation and on international issues of mutual concern.

The two heads of state spoke highly of the smooth development of bilateral friendly relations of cooperation, and stressed that comprehensively promoting good-neighborly relations between the two countries is the common aspiration of both peoples.

They agreed to work together to further develop the Sino- Russian strategic and cooperative partnership in the new century.

Jiang said that bilateral relations have been moving forward tangibly in recent years, and have reached a new high, adding that the two countries have basically solved border issues left over from history on the basis of consultations on an equal footing and with mutual understanding and compromise.

He also pointed to the expanding successful cooperation in all areas between the two countries, and said he believes that the ongoing meeting will help push forward Sino-Russian relations.

Jiang expressed satisfaction with bilateral cooperation on international issues in recent years, and said that both China and Russia are held profoundly responsible for pushing forward multi- polarization and maintaining the global strategic balance and stability.

The further promotion of strategic cooperation conforms to the present and long-term interest of both countries, Jiang said, adding that this is also a contribution to world peace and security.

China is ready to cooperate with Russia, and make use of the meeting mechanism between China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and the links with Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, in order to promote stability in Central Asia, Jiang added.

Yeltsin said that he was very happy to fulfill his promise to come to China for the second informal meeting with President Jiang, adding that the comprehensive development of Russia-China friendship and cooperation conforms to the common aspiration of the peoples of the two countries.

The Russian people are happy with China's economic achievements from the bottom of their hearts, Yeltsin said, adding that the successful launching of the "Shenzhou" spacecraft shows to the world that China processes abundant and solid technological capacity.

He added that Russia congratulates China on the positive progress made in China's bid to join the World Trade Organization, and also on the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic, and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Sino- Russian diplomatic relations.

The Russian president stressed that his country firmly stands for establishing a multi-polar world, saying that global issues can not be determined by a single country, but rather, must be decided by all countries of the world.

He said that major issues concerning the future and destiny of the world can only be determined with extensive participation by the entire international community.

Among those present at the meeting today were Chinese Vice- Premier Qian Qichen, Vice-Chairman Zhang Wannian of the Central Military Commission, Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, and Russian Ambassador to China Igor Rochachev.