A seminar on economic development and ecological safety between
China and Russia in the 21 century opened in Beijing on Wednesday.
In
a message to the seminar, Chinese Premier Zhu
Rongji said the Chinese government has always paid much
attention to the protection of the environment.
It
is beneficial for experts, scholars and business people from both
sides to discuss on the important issue of economic development and
the environment that concerns everyone, noted Zhu.
Wishing the seminar a success, Zhu said he believes that the
seminar will push forward Sino-Russian cooperation in this
field.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mikhailovich Kasyanov also sent a
message saying that the cooperation between parliaments, government
institutions, non-governmental organizations and business people of
the two countries is an important contribution to bilateral
cooperation.
Seminars held in the past have proved that holding meetings between
representatives of the two sides are also an effective way of
developing regional cooperation, the Russian prime minister
said.
The signing of a series of agreements on regional cooperation and
the establishment of joint ventures are the results of the
seminars, noted Kasyanov.
The political and economic agreements reached between leaders of
the two countries have opened great prospects for different
localities of the two countries to conduct cooperation in all
fields of the economy, and in science and technology, Kasyanov
said.
Kasyanov expressed his hope that the seminar will achieve success
so as to benefit the two peoples.
Jiang Chunyun, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of China's
National People's Congress, and Vladimir Platonov, vice-chairman of
the Federal Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia, attended the
opening ceremony of the seminar and delivered speeches
respectively.
Jiang said the Sino-Russian good-neighborly treaty of friendship
and cooperation signed in July between heads of state of the two
countries is a strategic and forward-looking document which maps
out principles and the direction for furthering bilateral
cooperation in various fields.
Jiang also pointed to the sixth regular meeting between prime
ministers of the two countries recently, which, in Jiang's words,
has further consolidated bilateral friendly cooperation and their
strategic cooperative partnership.
Jiang noted that experts, scholars and businessmen attending this
seminar can exchange views on the two topics so as to further
promote bilateral cooperation in this field.
Platonov said he hopes that the seminar will help solve some
problems so as to create conditions for expanding bilateral
economic and trade cooperation.
Noting that ecology and economy go side by side in development and
prosperity, Platonov pointed out that ecological elements have a
greater influence on Russia-China relations.
Platonov said he believes that it is imperative for the two sides
to expand cooperation in science, technology, patent technology,
and exchanges of expertise in production and scientific
research.
Jiang met with Platonov and his delegation before the opening of
the seminar.
Experts and scholars from both sides also delivered reports on the
two topics, agreeing that the two countries should enhance
cooperation in this field.
Some 200 government officials, experts, scholars and business
people held panel discussions on Wednesday afternoon to further
explore their common interests.
(China
Daily 09/20/2001)