Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Russian President Vladimir Putin
held official talks in Beijing Monday morning.
Jiang said he and Putin had already discussed issues of common
concern and reached broad consensus. He would like to further
exchange views on bilateral relations with Putin.
Putin extended his congratulations to the successful conclusion of
the 16th
National Congress of the Communist Party of China, commending
it "not only a major event in China's political life, but a major
event in the international arena."
The Russia-China relations have "reached quite a high level," he
said, noting Russia is willing to cooperate with China to usher in
a new phase bilateral ties.
After the talks, the two heads of state signed a China-Russia joint
statement. They also witnessed the signing of a treaty on the
transfer of convicts between the two nations, a protocol on the
agreement on establishing the regular meeting mechanism between
Chinese and Russian prime ministers and its organizational
principles signed on June 27, 1997, and an agreement on cooperation
between China's Public Security Ministry and Russia's Federal
Service of Tax Police to fight tax-related and other economic
crime.
Following their talks, Jiang and Putin also met the press. Jiang
described his talks with Putin as "rich in content" and said that
he and Putin "fully summarized the smooth evolution of the
Sino-Russian relationship over the past decade and laid out a
blueprint for the future of bilateral ties."
"China and Russia will be good neighbors, friends and partners
forever," Jiang said, adding that the two countries will continue
their efforts to ensure the implementation of strategic concepts
such as those contained in the China-Russia Good-Neighborly Treaty
of Friendship and Cooperation under the new situation for the
continuous growth of bilateral ties.
The China-Russia Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and
Cooperation has provided a solid legal foundation for lasting
friendship for generations to come, Jiang continued.
The treaty will guarantee the stable and healthy development of
China-Russia relations in the long run, he said.
During the past one year and more, Jiang said, the two sides
maintained close high-level exchanges and the mutually beneficial
cooperation was expanded on all fronts.
"The treaty has shown great vitality in action," Jiang said, adding
that he believes the document will provide stronger impetus for the
future development of bilateral ties.
"Under the current complicated international situation, 'Peace is
most valuable,'" Jiang quoted an old Chinese saying.
(China.org.cn edited from Xinhua News Agency, December 2, 2002)