China, Russia to further promote strategic partnership of cooperation
( 2003-05-29 10:29 ) (8)

China and Russia pledged on Tuesday to further promote the strategic partnership of cooperation, work together to solve problems in bilateral relations and safeguard national security of both sides.

A joint declaration, endorsed by Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, said that bilateral top-level exchange of visits and the inter-ministerial cooperationcommittees under the two governments serve as important guaranteesfor the strategic partnership of cooperation between the two countries and effective ways of exchanging views and coordinating their positions on bilateral ties and pressing international issues.

Stressing that the mechanism of regular meetings of the two countries' prime ministers is of great significance, China and Russia spoke highly of its contribution to developing their long-term trade and economic cooperation, said the declaration.

The two sides will work to consolidate the existing mechanisms and broaden channels of exchanges and consultations at various levels and in different fields, it said, adding that the two countries will further discuss ways to implement the agreement on establishing a mechanism of consultations on security.

In the declaration, they also pledged to settle the issue of boundary demarcation as soon as possible, and provide firm mutual support for each other's efforts to maintain national unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. Russia reiterated its principled stands on the issues of Taiwan and Tibet.

Both sides agreed to increase cooperation in the fields of trade, military technology, science and technology, energy, transportation, finance, aerospace, aviation and information technology, as well as in border and regional affairs, on the basis of mutual benefits.

China reiterated its support for Russia's bid to join the WorldTrade Organization, said the declaration.

The two sides also decided to deepen cooperation in health and medicine, join hands in fighting severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS), and continue boosting cultural cooperation and cracking down on cross-border crimes.