China, Russia Pledge to Strengthen Cooperation in World Affairs

China, Russia to Strengthen Cooperation

China and Russia agreed on Wednesday to further strengthen their mutual support and cooperation, and unite other countries to play a greater role in world affairs.

The consensus was reached during a meeting between Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Russian President Vladimir Putin, both here attending the annual summit of the "Shanghai Five" nations, which also brings together the heads of state from Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.

The meeting was the first face-to-face encounter between the two presidents since Putin took office in May this year, though they have had several telephone conversations over the past several months.

During the meeting, Jiang said both the fundamental interest of the two countries and the special duties the two countries bear for the world demand that China and Russia strengthen and deepen the Sino-Russian strategic partnership of cooperation.

In today's world, China and Russia can play an even greater role in opposing hegemony and power politics, and push forward the process of multi-polarization of the world, so long as the two countries support each other, cooperate closely with each other and unite other countries of the world in their efforts to this effect, Jiang said.

The Chinese president also expressed his appreciation of Russia's principled stance on the Anti-Ballistic Missiles Treaty, and said that China and Russia should continue to strengthen and deepen their cooperation in this field in a joint effort to maintain the strategic security and stability of the world.

On the "Shanghai Five" mechanism, Jiang said that in the past four year since the establishment of the mechanism, mutual understanding and trust among the five nations had been enhanced.

With the further development of the "Shanghai Five" process, China and Russia can do even more for safeguarding and promoting regional peace and stability, he said.

Putin agreed with Jiang and said that Russia and China should further strengthen their cooperation within the "Shanghai Five" framework, which is playing a more and more important role in world affairs.