Premier Zhu Rongji Meets Russian Deputy PMAt a meeting with Russian Deputy Prime Minister V. I. Matviyenko, Zhu said the development of Sino-Russian relations has shown a more active momentum since the new century began. He said Chinese President Jiang Zemin paid a state visit to Russia not long ago, and signed with Russian President Vladimir Putin the epoch-making Sino-Russian good-neighborly treaty of friendship and cooperation, which made clear the principles and direction for bilateral cooperation. He expressed the belief that a Sino-Russian strategic cooperative partnership based on good-neighborly friendship and reciprocal cooperation is bound to have a long-term and steady development. Conveying Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mikhailovich Kasyanov' s greetings to Zhu, Matviyenko said that under the efforts of the leaders of the two countries, bilateral cooperation in various fields has reached a very high level. The signing of the treaty has opened broad prospects for long- term cooperation, she added. Matviyenko is here as guest of Chinese Vice-Premier Li Lanqing. They will co-chair the Second Plenary Session of the China-Russia Cooperation Committee on Education, Culture, Health and Sports. Matviyenko said the committee has worked out some cooperation plans, which is significant for the two peoples to enhance mutual understanding and trust and strengthen their traditional friendship. She said she believes that the joint efforts of both sides will promote cooperation in education, culture, health and sports and further development the overall bilateral relations. Zhu spoke highly of the committee's efforts for promoting ideological exchanges between the two peoples and consolidating the social and political basis of bilateral relationship. He said he is convinced that the committee will score great achievements in implementing the bilateral treaty and expanding bilateral cultural cooperation. On his official visit to Russia next month for the sixth regular meeting between prime ministers of the two countries, Zhu said he is expecting to meet with Kasyanov for measures to carry out consensus and agreements reached between the heads of state of the two countries on expanding bilateral cooperation in various fields. |
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