Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Russian President Vladimir Putin
July 18 signed a joint declaration pledging to continue developing
their friendly relationship and promote all-round co-operation.
The Beijing Declaration stated the leaders of China and Russia agree
to deepen Sino-Russia relations in the 21st century.
The declaration stated the two countries will work together in the
international arena to promote peace and stability in the world.
Jiang and Putin, who is on a state visit to China, held formal talks
Tuesday morning. Chinese leaders including Li Peng, Zhu Rongji and
Li Ruihuan met separately with Putin in the afternoon.
The two state leaders are satisfied with the development of
Sino-Russian relations over the past decade, according to the
statement.
The two leaders pointed out that the resolve announced by China and
Russia in 1996 to develop a strategic partnership of equality,
mutual confidence and mutual co-ordination in the 21st century
complies with the fundamental interests of peoples in the two
countries.
They also stressed in the declaration that solidifying the strategic
partnership between China and Russia will also help to strengthen
the friendship between the Chinese and Russian people, the
state-to-state co-operation, the promotion of a multi-polarized
world and the building of a just and fair new international
order.Highlights of the bilateral declaration are as follows:
* All political documents signed and adopted by China and Russia
serve as the solid basis for the healthy development of bilateral
relations. The two sides will strictly abide by them and make
continuous efforts to push the relationship to higher levels.
* China and Russia will maintain close and regular contact between
their leaders of state, departments of foreign affairs, national
defence, law enforcement, economy, science and technology.
* China and Russia support forces of peace, stability, development
and co-operation in the international arena, while defying
hegemonism, power politics and group politics, and oppose attempts
to amend the basic principles of international law, to threaten
others by force or to interfere in other countries' internal
affairs.
As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, China
and Russia share the responsibility to safeguard the leading role of
the UN and its Security Council in maintaining world peace and
security.
The two state leaders are satisfied with the achievements of the
Shanghai Five Summit held earlier this month in Tajikistan. They
agreed that co-operation among members of the Shanghai Five has
reached a new level and should be further promoted.
China and Russia have reached consensus on maintaining security and
stability in their neighboring regions.
* The aim of the joint statement on the anti-ballistic missile
treaty signed during this summit is to consolidate global and
regional strategic stability, to safeguard the existing system of
arms control and disarmament treaties, to accelerate the non-
proliferation process of weapons of mass destruction and their
carrier vehicles, and to ensure the security of all countries,
without exception.
A look at the current world situation reveals the theory that the
anti-ballistic missile treaty should be amended on the grounds that
some countries are a missile threat is groundless.
* China and Russia respect each other's independence, sovereignty
and territorial integrity, and firmly oppose any attempts to split
the country from within or outside the country. They understand and
support each other's efforts to safeguard national unification,
sovereignty and territorial integrity.
National separatism, international terrorism, religious extremism
and cross-border criminal activities have endangered the safety of
sovereign countries and the peace and stability of the world. China
and Russia are determined to take clear-cut measures to crack down
on these problems both bilaterally and multi-laterally.*Russia
reiterated its stance on the Taiwan question, saying that it
recognizes the government of the People's Republic of China as the
sole legitimate government representing China, and that Taiwan is an
inalienable part of Chinese territory.
Russia will not support any form of Taiwan independence. It supports
the People's Republic of China's stance on not accepting "two
Chinas'' or "one China, one Taiwan.''
Russia opposes Taiwan's entry into the United Nations or into any
international organization eligible only to sovereign states, and
will not sell weapons to Taiwan.
China is truly grateful for Russia's faithful adherence to the
"one-China'' principle on the Taiwan issue.
Both China and Russia believe that the Taiwan question is China's
internal affair. Both believe that no outside force should be
allowed to interfere in resolving the Taiwan question, and stress
that such an attempt can only add to the tension in the Asia-Pacific
region.
* The further and comprehensive development of economic, trade,
scientific and technological, and military-related technological
co-operation between China and Russia is vital for the expansion of
the Sino-Russian strategic partnership of co-operation based on
equality and trust.
The two heads of state said they were satisfied with the performance
of prime ministers at regularly-held meetings, and think the
regular-meeting system plays a major role in promoting bilateral
co-operation in the areas of economy and trade, science and
technology, national defence, energy (including the oil and gas
industry), transportation, nuclear industry, aviation and aerospace,
and banking.
China and Russia are committed to widening co-operation in specific
areas to consolidate their strategic ties.
China and Russia will explore possibilities for Russia's
participation in the development of China's western regions,
including the joint development of oil and gas resources and the
laying of a gas pipeline.
Both wish to strengthen co-operation in the sectors of science and
technology, education, culture and sports.
* The two countries believe that the Sino-Russian agreement signed
on December 9, 1999, for the joint use of certain islets in border
rivers and surrounding waters for economic purposes is
unprecedented. The smooth implementation of the agreement marked a
major step forward for the two countries to build their border into
a bridge of friendship.
In a constructive and pragmatic spirit, China and Russia will
continue their talks to speed up resolution of disputes in areas
still under negotiation. The status quo should be maintained in
those areas until a solution is reached.
* China and Russia are satisfied with the initial implementation of
a treaty signed by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and
Tajikistan on deepening trust between their militaries, and reducing
military forces in border regions.
Both believe the implementation of the pact will promote peace,
tranquility, stability and prosperity in the border regions, and
push forward the good-neighborly relations among all signatories.
China and Russia think now is the time to study the possibilities of
finding ways to promote trust between all these countries in
military matters.
* It is the common aspiration of the Chinese and Russian peoples to
preserve their friendship for generations to come. To this end,
tireless effort is required not only from the two governments, but
also from the two peoples.
The two countries agree to support the Sino-Russian Committee for
Friendship, Peace and Development and to encourage other forms of
non-governmental exchange.
* To build up a long-term and stable relationship between the two
countries on the basis of good-neighborly friendship, mutual trust
and mutual benefit, the two heads of state agreed to conduct
negotiations on preparations for the reaching of the China-Russia
Good-Neighbourly Friendship and Co-operation Treaty.
* Russian President Putin invited Chinese President Jiang Zemin to
pay a state visit to Russia at Jiang's convenience in 2001. Jiang
thanked him for the invitation and accepted it.
The schedule for the visit will be settled through diplomatic
channels.