Sino-Russian Committee Plenary Session Issued Joint Press ReleaseThe Third Plenary Session for the Sino-Russian Committee for Friendship, Peace and Development closed Friday in Beijing.The session, with the theme of "position, role and task of the committee in expanding Sino-Russian cooperation in sectors of economy and trade, science and technology", opened Wednesday. Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Russian President Vladimir Putin both sent congratulatory messages to the session. In the messages, Jiang and Putin spoke highly of the committee for the great deal of work it has done over the past three years in deepening understanding and friendship between people of the two countries, promoting friendship, and pushing forward cooperation of mutual benefits in all fields. The two presidents pointed out in the messages that to constantly consolidate the basis of the China-Russia strategic partnership is a great cause relevant to the historic friendship and common development of two great neighboring countries. They hoped that the committee, an organization consisting of influential celebrities from the two countries and having great potential in areas of economy and trade, culture and human talent, will continue to work hard to expand the social basis for the friendship between the two neighbors and to boost understanding and mutual trust between the two peoples. During the session, Chinese Vice-President Hu Jintao met Russian members of the committee and extended a warm welcome to the participants. The session was presided over by the committee's Vice Chairman and Secretary-General Zhang Dehuang, who is China's vice foreign minister, while Co-Chairmen Huang Yicheng and Volsky Ivanovich delivered work reports. The Chairmen hoped that the committee will carry out the tasks of the current period and work to promote friendly contact between China and Russia in the fields of economy and trade, science and technology, and enhancing mutual understanding and trust. During the session, Chinese and Russian members put forward a number of valuable proposals and ideas and exchanged views on cooperation in the fields of economy, science and technology and other sectors. Russian members and entrepreneurs attending the session also visited Tianjin Economic and Technological Development Zone during the session. The plenary session will adopt the work plan of the committee in 2001 and the decision was made to hold the fourth plenary session in Moscow in late 2001. |
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