Chinese premier, Russian president meet on bilateral relations

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) in Moscow, capital of Russia, on Oct. 26, 2005.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met with Russian President Vladimir Putin Moscow on Wednesday to discuss bilateral relations and major international issues.

Wen, who arrived here earlier Wednesday to attend the Fourth Meeting of Prime Ministers of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, said China-Russia ties have been consolidated and have registered new development so far this year.

The two countries have started a consultation mechanism on strategic security, approved a border agreement, issued a joint statement on international order in the new century and held a joint military exercise, Wen said.

Bilateral cooperation in economy and trade, energy, technology has been fruitful. The two neighbors offered firm support to each other on issues concerning national sovereignty, territorial integrity and national security, the Chinese premier said.

Both China and Russia are at an important stage of development, and establishing and developing a strategic partnership is a right choice, Wen said.

It is a wish shared by the two peoples that their countries remain sincere friends, good neighbors and cooperating partners, Wen said, adding it is in the interests of the two countries and their peoples.

The China-Russia strategic partnership is not targeted at any third party. Rather, it is devoted to establishing a diversified, just and reasonable new international political and economic order, Wen said. Ultimately, it is conducive to global peace and development, he added.

The Chinese premier stressed China and Russia should look at bilateral ties from a strategic and long-term perspective and continue to push forward the strategic partnership.

Wen praised the momentum of bilateral economic and trade ties, saying China and Russia can complement each other in economy and enjoy great potential for growth. He proposed further expanding areas of cooperation and optimizing trade structures, boosting mutual investment and regulating trade.

Wen expressed the hope that existing agreements can be well implemented and that the two countries can sign an investment protection agreement at an early date.

Putin, for his part, said the Russia-China strategic partnership is a close, long-term relationship and an important factor in international politics. He added it is also the most important and a priority direction in Russia's foreign policy.

Russia hopes both sides can maintain the high level of mutual trust and further develop this relationship, Putin said.

The Russian president agreed with Wen on his proposals on bilateral economic and trade ties, saying the ties grow rapidly, with trade steadily rising, and Russia hopes to keep the momentum.

The two countries should optimize trade structures, provide convenient market access, boost import of electromechanical and high-tech products and expand cooperation in energy, investment and production, Putin said.

Source: Xinhua