Sino-Russian Cooperation Enters Fast Traffic Lane: AnalysisOn September 9, the sky cleared up after rain and the air was especially fresh and clear in Moscow. Premier Zhu Rongji arrived in Moscow , the capital of Russia, from St. Petersburg, continuing his official visit to this country.The distinguished Chinese guest was accorded warm welcome whether in St. Petersburg or in Moscow, In St. Petersburg, Premier Zhu attended the sixth regular meeting between the PM of China and Russia. The meeting was crowned with rich achievements. After conclusion of the meeting, both sides signed a series of agreements, all these are concrete expressions of the achievements. The mechanism for the regular meetings between PM of the two countries formally started up in December 1996. On November 3, 2000, Premier Zhu Rongji had talks with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov in Beijing, until then the two PM had held five regular meetings. The present sixth meeting held in St. Petersburg proceeded very smoothly and successfully. After conclusion of the meeting, Premier Zhu Rongji and Prime Minister Kasyanov jointly met with journalists. When referring to the reasons for the success of the meeting, the first thing the premier mentioned was the epoch-making "China-Russia Treaty of Good Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation" signed by Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This is a strategic and perspective document which points to the direction and principles for developing China-Russia friendly cooperation and lays a foundation for the success in the meeting between PM this time. The task of the meeting is to implement the principle, spirit of the Treaty and the agreements reached between the heads of State of the two countries. During President Jiang Zemin's visit to Russia in July this year, the heads of State of China and Russia gave high attention to the sixth regular meeting between prime ministers of the two countries to be held in September 2001, thinking that the meeting will provide new motive force for the development of long-term economic cooperation between China and Russia. At that time President Jiang pointed out, "the cooperation between China and Russia in the economic and trade field has witnessed constant expansion in scale and marked a rise in level in recent years. This progress shows that the potential for cooperation between us is enormous, so long as both sides make joint efforts, its broad prospect is foreseeable". It is only one month and more after President Jiang's visit to Russia, Premier Zhu Rongji came to Russia to hold the sixth regular meeting with the Russian Prime Minister Kasyanov. The complete success of the meeting fully proves President Jiang's correct thesis on the prospect of Sino-Russian cooperation. Economic and trade cooperation is an important field in the China-Russia relations. Earnest implementation of the agreement reached in the economic, trading, scientific and technological as well as other fields will incessantly strengthen the material foundation of China-Russia strategic cooperative partnership featuring equality and mutual trust. The value of trade between the two countries reached US$8 billion last year and is expected to hit US$9-10 billion this year. These figures show that China-Russia economic and trade cooperation does have great potential and broad prospect. On September 10, Premier Zhu Rongji attended the luncheon given by personages in Russia's industrial, commercial, scientific and technological circles and delivered a speech. Premier Zhu spoke highly of the Russian friends in these fields for their contributions to the development of Russia-China ties of friendly cooperation, indicating that he was full of hope and confidence in the bright future of Sino-Russian friendly and cooperative relations, he put forward several proposals for expanding China-Russia economic and technological cooperation. Premier Zhu Rongji's speech received repeated warm applause from the audience. Personages in Russia's industrial, commercial, scientific and technological circles showed keen interest in strengthening cooperation with China. Premier Zhu's attending the sixth regular meeting between Chinese and Russian prime ministers and paying official visit to Russia have further promoted the development of ties between the two countries, particularly economic and trade relations. During his stay in Russia, Premier Zhu repeatedly stressed that the vehicle of China-Russian friendly cooperation had now passed the running-in period and had begun to steer into the fast traffic lane, the future of Sino-Russian economic and trade cooperation knows no bounds. Under the guidance of the China-Russian Treaty of Good Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation, China-Russian relations in the new century will reach a new, higher level. The rich fruits borne in Premier Zhu's present visit to Russia once against fully proves that the China-Russian strategic cooperative partnership has a strong vitality. By People's Daily Online |
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