Chinese, Russian PMs Sign Joint Communique

China and Russia will work to strengthen the regular premiers meeting mechanism to bring bilateral ties to a higher level, said a joint communique signed by Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji and his Russian counterpart Mikhail Kasyanov in ST. Petersburg, the second largest city of Russia, at the end of the 6th regular meeting Saturday.

The two sides will make joint efforts to improve the efficiency of all the joint institutions set up under such a mechanism, said the communique.

The Chinese premier arrived in ST. Petersburg Friday to attend the meeting and start his official visit to Russia afterwards.

The Sino-Russian Good-neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, signed by Chinese President Jiang Zemin and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on July 16, 2001, marked a new stage in the development of strategic partnership between the two countries based on equality and mutual trust, the two premiers stressed in the communique, adding that it has paved the way for expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in all fields.

The communique said the two premiers are satisfied with the progress made in bilateral cooperation in the spheres of economy and trade ever since the two held their fifth regular meeting on November 3, 2000.

The two governments are to further promote cooperation in trade and economy which enjoys a broad prospect, it said.

The communique pointed out that bilateral trade volume hit a record high of 8 billion U.S. dollars in the year 2000. And it stood at 5.54 billion dollars in the first seven months of 2001, up 29.9 percent from that of the same period last year. The two countries also witnessed progress in their cooperation in the areas of gas and oil, civil aviation, nuclear energy and new technology.

The two sides agreed that the inclusion of humanities issues into the regular meetings between the two premiers is bound to contribute to enhancing bilateral cooperation in education, culture, health, sports, tourism and media. It will also expand and consolidate the social and spiritual basis for mutual understanding, trust and friendship between the two peoples, said the communique.

The two sides are happy to see that plans for cooperation in the above-mentioned areas have been drawn and are being carried out.

The two premiers agreed on the minutes of the fifth meeting of the committee for the regular Sino-Russian premiers' meeting and the minutes of the two meetings of the Sino-Russian joint cooperative committee on education, culture, health and sports.

They approved the establishment of a subcommittee on communications and information technology within the framework of the regular meetings committee, said the communique.

China and Russia, as two permanent members of the UN Security Council, shoulder unshirkable responsibilities for maintaining

world peace and security, the two sides stressed.

Therefore, the two countries are willing to join hands in safeguarding the principles and purpose of the UN Charter and to reinforce the central role played by the United Nations and its Security Council in world affairs. The two countries are determined to work together for the establishment of a multipolar world based on international law, said the communique.

The two sides hold that world peace and economic development are inseparable with maintaining global strategic stability. The two sides believe that the 1972 Anti-ballistic Missile Treaty remains as the cornerstone for global security and strategic stability. Therefore, the existing treaties to this end should be respected and observed, it said.

China and Russia call for negotiations on the prevention of arms race in the outerspace and the conclusion of relevant international laws as soon as possible.

The two sides expressed grave concerns over the deteriorating situation in the Middle East. And they also discussed the issue of Iraq, the situation on the Korean Peninsula and Afghanistan.

They pledged to make joint efforts for a peaceful solution to regional conflicts through political means.

To develop a long-term stable economic and trade ties within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is in the basic interests of all its member countries, the communique said.

It will help SCO member countries solve their major economic problems, thus contributing to maintaining regional stability and security, and world peace and development as well.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization established in June this year groups Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The two sides reiterated that it is of pressing importance for the organization's member countries to cooperate in fighting terrorism, separatism and extremism in order to safeguard national interests.

China and Russia believe that the first meeting between the SCO premiers, due to be held on September 13-14 in Alma Alta, is bound to create a favorable atmosphere for outlining the economic and trade cooperation among the six members and drawing guidelines for trade and investment in Central Asia, said the communique.

Russia is the third leg of Zhu's four-nation tour, which has taken him to Ireland and Belgium and will take him to Kazakhstan.






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