Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Zhu Rongji at a meeting with visiting Russian Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov at the Zhongnanhai party and government residence on Tuesday expressed satisfaction with the successful development of Russo-Chinese relations.
"Relations between Russia and China have been developing on a healthy basis," the head of the Chinese government said adding that the strategic partnership between the two countries initiated by Russian President Boris Yeltsin and Chairman of the People's Republic of China Jiang Zemin, "corresponds to vital interests of the two peoples and is fully supported by them. "
Zhu Rongji expressed confidence that this partnership would continue in the new century promoting the development of Russia and China, as well as the maintenance of peace and stability in the region and in the world as a whole.
On his part, Ilya Klebanov spoke in support of a concept of a multipolar world. "We must strengthen our mutual friendship," he said.
Klebanov, who attended a regular session of the Russo-Chinese Commission for Economic Cooperation and participated in the talks with Deputy Chairman of the Central Military Council of China Zhang Wannian, will visit on Thursday the Centre of aerospace modelling and one of the military units stationed near Beijing. His visit's programme also envisages trips to Shenzhen and Shanghai.
"Today's talks have passed simply excellently, really excellently!" he told Itar-Tass before a meeting with Premier Zhu Rongji.
The Russian delegation includes Rosvooruzhenie General Director Alexei Ogaryov and General Director of the Russian Space Agency Yuri Koptev. A number of agreements and contracts, the content of which has not been made public so far, are expected to be signed on at meetings with Chinese leaders.
As was announced here, the commission will discuss problems of cooperation of the two countries in the coming years, specifically, prospects for their cooperation in high-tech scientific research.
"We have come with a very big delegation. It will be a traditional meeting to discuss general economic problems," Klebanov told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.
According to him, the Russian delegation has brought several proposals, which have already been coordinated by the two sides, as well as "several new, very serious suggestions, including on military and technological cooperation. "
"Russia and China are strategic partners," Klebanov said. He stressed that cooperation in the military sphere is the evidence of "a high level of mutual confidence" between the two countries.
On August 28, the concluding day of his visit, Klebanov will be received by Chairman of the People's Republic of China Jiang Zemin. |
