Russian President Vladimir Putin has said his country attaches
great importance to its relations with China, which have made rapid
progress over the past few years.
In a interview with Chinese news media in Moscow?on October
11, Putin, who will visit China from Oct. 14-16, said: "We have
successfully overcome fundamental disputes and there are no matters
that we can't discuss with a candid attitude."
Putin said the two countries' older generations of statesmen
cooperated amicably and laid a sound foundation for bilateral
ties.
"I would like to make joint efforts with China's new generation
of leaders including President Hu Jintao to further solidify the
foundation and build up an updated, sound and comfortable
relationship."
On the subject of anti-terror issues, Putin thanked the Chinese
people and leadership for their support for Russia during the
hostage crisis at the beginning of September in a Beslan school
siege in southern Russia, in which more than 320 innocent citizens
were killed.
The president said the support from China was particularly
important and valuable at a difficult time for Russia.
Commenting on Russia's foreign policy adjustments after
September 11, 2001, Putin said the world is now facing a new threat
of terrorism and the international community must make joint
efforts to deal with it.
Putin stressed the need for the avoidance of double standards in
the fight against terrorism.
"In order to launch more powerful strikes on terrorists, all
countries in the world should make efforts together and avoid
double standards."
It is ridiculous to define some radical movements in certain
areas as "terrorists," he said, while others are described as being
engaged in the "struggle for independence."
On bilateral cooperation in economy and trade, the president
said the trade volume between the two countries, which has been
increasing over recent years, is expected to reach US$20 billion in
2004 and could rise to US$60 billion in coming years.
He said the two countries can develop close cooperation in the
field of energy. China needs steady energy supplies from abroad
while Russia can produce abundant oil and natural gas.
"Russia hopes China becomes a reliable energy market with its
rising demands. No factors in politics, ideology and economy can
hold back cooperation in this field," Putin said.
Putin expressed the hope that the 2004 Friendship Year of
Russian and Chinese Youth can step up communications and exchanges
between young people of the two sides, saying the future of both
countries depends on the youth.
He suggested that young people from both sides establish proper
contacts that may help solve specific problems in bilateral ties
and make the economies and cultures of the two countries more
competitive in the world.
Commenting on the role that the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO)
has played in world affairs, Putin said SCO members had already
been cooperating in political fields and in combating terrorism,
and now economic cooperation has been added to the organization's
agenda.
Putin believed the SCO will play an active role in a broader
range of global affairs. He said many more countries are becoming
interested in taking part in activities of the SCO and that this is
evidence that the organization's status and influence in the world
arena?arw rising.
(Xinhua News Agency October 14, 2004)