Jiang, Putin Start First MeetingChinese President Jiang Zemin and Russian President Vladimir Putin started their first summit meeting Wednesday.This is the first time the two presidents met each other since Putin took office last May, though they have had several conversations over the hotline telephone. The two presidents are here to attend the fifth summit meeting of the "Shanghai Five," which also brings together the heads of state from Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The Dushanbe summit, to be presided over by Tajik President Emomali Rakhmonov, is scheduled to start Wednesday morning. Jiang arrived Monday on a two-day state visit, the first ever by a Chinese head of state to Tajikistan. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/ |