No major obstacles in China-Russia relations
21/3/2006 15:30
China says there are no major problems and obstacles between China and
Russia after the two countries settled their border disputes last year following
four decades of negotiations.
"The two countries set up high-level meeting
mechanism and solved the border issue successfully. There are no major problems
and obstacles in their bilateral relations," said Chinese Foreign Minister Li
Zhaoxing.
Li made the remarks in a written interview with the Russian media,
which was posted on the ministry's official website on Monday.
"China-Russia
relations have developed rapidly and the two countries have increased their
mutual understanding," said Li.
On the events of the Year of Russia scheduled
for 2006 and the Year of China for 2007, Li said the "National Year" event is
the first of its kind in the history of China-Russia relations and is the major
step toward implementing their treaty of neighborly friendship.
Chinese and
Russian presidents will jointly attend the opening ceremony of the Year of
Russia during Russian President Vladimir Putin's upcoming state visit to China
from March 21 to 22.
Li hailed China-Russia trade cooperation, saying the
bilateral trade volume hit US$29.1 billion in 2005, up 37.1 percent year on
year. The good momentum is expected to lay a solid foundation to meet the goal
60 to US$80 billion in trade by 2010.
In response to a question on bilateral
military cooperation, Li said China and Russia, share a 4,300-km-long border and
will develop long-term and stable neighborly friendship and mutually-beneficial
cooperation.
Both China and Russia follow the principle of non-alignment,
non-antagonism and not targeting a third country, which benefit peace, security
and stability in the region and the world at large, Li said.
Xinhua
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