In the same day, Chinese FM and Russian FM issued a joint statement on the Indian-Pakistani situation. The two called on India and Pakistan to find a political settlement to the current crisis through diplomatic efforts.

The bilateral ties between China and Russia will develop in the new year, Jiang made the remarks in his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, who was here to attend the one-day meeting of foreign ministers from the six-member Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

In reviewing bilateral ties in 2001, Jiang said that both sides "have carried out many practical actions and achieved great results."

He particularly commended the treaty, the fast-growing trade between the two countries, the new phase of their political mutual trust and their closer strategic coordination.

Jiang said that in the new year he would maintain close contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the implementation of the bilateral treaty on good-neighborliness and friendship signed last year, increase political mutual trust, strengthen economic and trade cooperation, and enhance bilateral strategic coordination in the international arena for global strategic stability and world peace.

He said that the growth of Sino-Russian relations is not only in the interests of the two nations, but also important for peace and development in the world as a whole.

Ivanov said that Putin also attaches importance to the Russian-Chinese ties. He said that political dialogue between the two countries proceeded smoothly and the consensus reached by the top leaders is being implemented. Moreover, the two countries share identical views on the maintenance of strategic stability and other major international issues, he said.

He believes that this year summit meetings between the top leaders will push forward the growth of bilateral ties.

Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan and Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov issued a joint statement on the Indian-Pakistani situation Monday.

The statement says that China and Russia are deeply concerned about the escalating tension between India and Pakistan.

China and Russia express strong indignation over the terrorist incident in New Delhi on December 13, 2001, and resolutely condemn terrorism in any form, the statement says.

China and Russia hold that it is in the fundamental interest of both India and Pakistan and conducive to peace and stability in the South Asian Region for India and Pakistan to show restraint and prevent the situation from further deteriorating.

China and Russia call on India and Pakistan to find a political settlement to the current crisis through diplomatic efforts.

China and Russia hold that a solution acceptable to both India and Pakistan will also facilitate the mediation process after the Afghanistan conflict.

China and Russia will continue to make efforts for the realization of the above-mentioned goals, the statement says.

(People?s Daily January 8, 2002)