Premier Wen Jiabao and Russian President Vladimir Putin have
sought to consolidate their strategic partnership through better
coordination in global affairs and more pragmatic economic
cooperation.
Wen met Putin in the Kremlin yesterday and more than 10
cooperative agreements are likely to be signed during the premier's
two-day official visit to Russia.
Putin congratulated China for holding the 17th National Congress
of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and extended greetings to
President Hu Jintao. The CPC congress has devised a grand plan for
China's development, he said, and its implementation will boost
Sino-Russian ties.
That Wen is in Moscow for the closing ceremony of the "Year of
China" in Russia and President Hu was here for the opening ceremony
shows how much China values its relations with Russia, Putin
said.
He thanked China for its efforts to rescue six Russians who went
missing in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in September. Three
of them died before help could be reached.
Wen told Putin two aspects of the 17th CPC congress were
important: the lesson from China's 30 years of reform and opening
up is that it has to uphold socialism with Chinese characteristics,
and it will insist on peaceful development.
Sound relations with Russians will be of primary importance for
China's foreign policy, the premier said.
It was perhaps the last meeting between Wen and Putin before the
Russian presidential election next March. Yet Putin assured Wen
that Russia's policy toward China wouldn't change even after he
leaves the office. According to the Russian constitution, Putin
can't seek election for a third term.
Both leaders described Sino-Russian ties as being the best in
history today. They have developed smoothly especially during the
past few years.
During an interview with the Russian news agencies before his
visit, Wen had said bilateral ties have seen big and substantial
changes since the two countries established a strategic cooperative
partnership 10 years ago.
The two neighbors have deepened political mutual trust, greatly
expanded trade and economic cooperation and enriched the content of
strategic cooperative partnership by holding events such as the
"Year of Russia" in China and the "Year of China" in Russia.
Wen and Putin yesterday discussed a broad range of bilateral
issues, including energy. They are believed to have exchanged views
on international matters such as the Iranian nuclear issue,
too.
Wen said he is confident that the two countries will increase
cooperation in fields such as strategic security.
China and Russia will continue supporting one another on major
issues of common concern, he said.
Putin has made relations with China a strong element of his
diplomacy, particularly in politics. His five meetings with
President Hu Jintao this year is a reflection of his policy.
The last Hu-Putin meeting was held on the sidelines of the APEC
forum in Sydney two months ago. The two leaders also attended the
largest joint military drill in the Ural Mountains in August.
Wen is scheduled to meet with his Russian counterpart Viktor
Zubkov today and also attend the second China-Russia business
summit and the closing ceremony of the "Year of China" in
Russia.
(China Daily November 6, 2007)
