Chinese President Hu Jintao met Saturday with his Russian
counterpart Vladimir Putin in Hanoi and expressed his willingness
to work together with Russia to push forward the Sino-Russian
strategic partnership.
"The relations between China and Russia have made historic
progress since they forged a strategic partnership of coordination
10 years ago," Hu said when meeting with Putin on the sidelines of
the two-day Economic Leaders' Informal Meeting of the Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, which began on Saturday.
Both sides have enhanced mutual political trust, achieved
noticeable results in their pragmatic cooperation and deepened
their strategic coordination, he said, adding that the Sino-Russian
friendship has contributed to peace and stability in the region and
the world as a whole.
Calling the "Year of Russia" in China a success, Hu said he
believed the 2007 "Year of China" in Russia will be successful as
well.
"The overall economic and trade ties between the two countries
have maintained a good momentum," Hu said, urging both sides to
make joint efforts in expanding cooperation and enhancing its
quality.
To attain the goal, the Chinese president said economic and
trade structure should be improved, with more cooperation in
electro-mechanical products and high technology, mutual investment
be increased and areas of cooperation be expanded.
China is willing to enhance cooperation with Russia in such
fields as science and technology, aviation and space technology,
health, environmental protection and culture, he added.
Noting the Russia-China ties and their mutually beneficial
cooperation having developed to a high level, Putin said his
country will continuously strive to promote bilateral friendship
and cooperation.
Putin said he appreciated China's arrangement for the "Year of
Russia" and pledged to offer assistance for the 2007 "Year of
China" in Russia.
He said Russia-China trade has developed rapidly, adding that
Russia has launched the construction of its longest oil pipeline
from eastern Siberia to the Pacific Ocean.
The oil pipeline will run from Taishet along a 4,000 km route,
to give Russia access to countries of the Asian-Pacific region.
Russia also supported participation of Chinese enterprises in
the energy exploration and exploitation in Russia, the Russian
president said.
On the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula, President Hu said
all parties concerned should strive for the denuclearization of the
peninsula and seek a settlement of the issue through dialogues.
They should also resume the six-party talks, which involve
China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Russia,
the United States, Japan and the Republic of Korea, and reaffirm a
joint statement adopted at the talks on Sept. 19, 2005, said the
Chinese president.
For his part, Putin said Russia will continue to coordinate with
parties concerned in a bid to bring them back to the negotiating
table.
On the Iran nuclear issue, the two leaders agreed that both
China and Russia are opposed to nuclear proliferation and will push
for a settlement of the issue through negotiations.
(Xinhua News?Agency November 19, 2006)
