Joint Statement Between The People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation, April 6, 2007

For other joint communiqués, click here.

President Hu Jintao of the People's Republic of China paid a state visit to the Russian Federation from 26 to 28 March 2007 at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation. The two presidents held official talks in Moscow and attended the opening ceremonies of the Year of China in Russia and the Chinese National Exhibition in Russia.

During his visit, President Hu Jintao of the People's Republic of China also met with Chairman Mikhail Fradkov of the Government of the Russian Federation and Chairman Boris Grizlov of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.

The visit of the President of the People's Republic of China to the Russian Federation is a new and major step in advancing the strategic partnership of coordination between the two countries. The visit strengthened mutual trust between China and Russia and took it to a higher level consistent with the advanced level of practical cooperation between the two countries and their mutual coordination on the international stage.

The two presidents noted with satisfaction that bilateral cooperation in many fields has been developing smoothly over the ten years since the establishment of the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination, bringing real benefits to the two peoples. To continue to enhance China-Russia cooperation in a comprehensive way serves the supreme national interests of the two countries and contributes to upholding peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. The two sides will make joint efforts to steadily deepen practical cooperation, strengthen strategic coordination and enhance the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination.

To this end, the two presidents made the following statement:

I

1. The two sides will, taking a long-term perspective, build on the success of the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination over the past ten years and work consistently to enhance mutual trust and strengthen political cooperation. They will stay committed to mutual benefit and reciprocity to enhance economic cooperation and deepen scientific and cultural cooperation. They will work in close coordination and collaboration to strengthen security cooperation.

2. On the basis of the principles of the Treaty of Good Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between China and Russia signed on 16 July 2001, the two sides will increase mutual support on major issues concerning independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Russia reaffirms its strong support for China's principled position on Taiwan and Tibet.

3. The two sides will continue to enhance parliamentary contact, give full play to the role of the parliamentary cooperation mechanism, conduct inter-parliamentary exchanges and work steadily to improve the legal foundation for bilateral cooperation.

4. China and Russia have made smooth progress in boundary demarcation pursuant to the Complementary Agreement between the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation on the Eastern Section of the China-Russia Boundary signed on 14 October 2004. The two sides reiterate that demarcation of the remaining two sections will be completed by the end of 2007. The two sides believe that settlement of the boundary issue between the two countries will help strengthen bilateral relations and develop border cooperation on the basis of the principle of achieving enduring peace, mutual accommodation and mutual benefit.

5. The Year of Russia in China in 2006 further enhanced political mutual trust and deepened cooperation between the two countries in political affairs, business, science and technology and culture. The two sides resolve to take all measures required to ensure that the Year of China in Russia, which was already opened, will be as successful and play an important part in growing China-Russia relations and wide-ranging exchanges between the two peoples.

6. Bilateral economic and trade cooperation continues to flourish. Trade has increased significantly, investment and economic and technological cooperation has expanded, and exchange at the local level grows more vigorous. The two countries enjoy closer contact between big companies and between small and medium sized enterprises. All this offers new opportunities and creates favorable conditions for the fast growth of bilateral economic and trade cooperation. The two sides will further improve the mechanism of regular meetings between the two prime ministers and make full use of it to bring about more practical results in their practical cooperation in various fields.

Given the huge potential in a wide range of important areas, trade in mechanical and electrical products and cooperation on high-tech production in particular, the two sides need to continue to take coordinated and targeted measures to enhance and upgrade their economic and trade cooperation.

7. Both China and Russia are committed to stronger investment cooperation, which is one of the priorities in bilateral cooperation. The intergovernmental agreement on the encouragement and mutual protection of investment signed on 9 November 2006 injected new vitality into the cooperation between companies and businesses of the two countries.

The two sides will work together to create favorable conditions for their companies to carry out investment cooperation projects, and continue to give play to the role of China-Russia Conference on Investment Promotion to raise the level and quality of mutual investment between companies of the two countries.

8. Cooperation at the local level and in border regions is a major component of economic cooperation and trade between China and Russia and an important driving force behind economic growth in the regions along the borders. To this end, the two countries should strengthen coordination in implementing their respective strategies to revitalize the old industrial bases in the northeastern region of China and to promote development in the far eastern and eastern Siberian regions of Russia, and work out a plan of cooperation in this area.

9. The steady implementation of large energy cooperation projects between the two countries will significantly boost economic growth and strengthen the economic security of China and Russia. The two sides highly appreciate the efforts made by their companies in the oil and gas and power sectors and will work together to support such cooperation between their companies to strengthen and advance their all-round and long-term strategic partnership of coordination in the energy sector.

10. The two sides will take new steps to advance production cooperation in energy, agriculture, medical care, aviation and manufacturing of machinery and automobiles, and jointly promote the application of research results, primarily energy and resource-conserving technologies. They will encourage Chinese companies to take part in contracting projects in construction and agricultural production in Russia. They will also increase the promotion of their respective companies.

11. Marked progress has been made in bilateral cooperation on environmental protection. The two sides are satisfied with the establishment of the sub-committee and related task forces on environmental protection cooperation under the regular consultation mechanism between the two prime ministers and the smooth launching of the task force on the joint monitoring of water quality of transnational rivers. The two sides will give priority to preventing water pollution, monitoring water quality and protecting bio-diversity of transnational rivers in their cooperation.

12. China-Russia immigration cooperation is proceeding steadily. The joint immigration task force is working smoothly. The two sides will continue their cooperation on fighting illegal immigration and take effective measures to facilitate the exchange of visits between the two peoples.

The two sides will, pursuant to their domestic laws, facilitate regular trade, investment and business operations by individuals, corporations and other economic entities of the two countries in their respective territories and take effective measures to protect the life, property and lawful rights and interests of the nationals of the other side in their respective territories.

13. To strengthen cultural cooperation is significant to deepening political mutual trust and enhancing popular support for the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination. To this end, it is important to strengthen and enrich exchanges on education, culture, health, sports, tourism, mass media and archives and encourage broader social involvement in such exchanges.

II

1. The shared position on major international political issues of principle and the common or similar positions on important international and regional issues between China and Russia enable them to take part in international cooperation more effectively and meet new challenges and threats. The two sides will continue coordination and deepen strategic coordination in diplomatic affairs to create an enabling international environment for the development of the two countries.

Countries should work together to resolve the problems facing the international community. China and Russia will remain committed to the firm establishment of widely recognized principle of decision through consensus and coordination mechanism in international affairs.

The two sides are resolved to strengthen cooperation with other countries to uphold stability and security at all levels and on all fronts and create favorable conditions for sustainable development. They will promote multilateralism and democracy in international relations, respect the primacy of international law and work to establish a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity.

The diversity of cultures and civilizations in the world should be maintained, and initiatives and actions for promoting inter-civilization dialogue should be encouraged.

2. China and Russia have common or similar positions on a series of major issues on the United Nations. Their successful cooperation under the UN framework is a guarantee for advancing their interests, namely, to strengthen the role of the Untied Nations and the central status of the UN Security Council in upholding world peace and security.

The two sides believe that reform of the United Nations should be based on the broadest consensus among its member states. It is very important for the two countries to strengthen coordination in the reform of the world body.

This position is also fully applicable to the plan on the reform of the UN Security Council which is now under discussion. China and Russia believe that to impose enlargement on the Security Council will only be counter-productive. The enlargement should be based on the broadest consensus.

3. China and Russia believe that cooperation among countries in addressing new challenges and threats should be the cornerstone of the international security system.

Therefore, the two sides emphasize the need to further enhance the treaties and legal basis in international counter-terrorism cooperation. This cooperation should accord with the UN global counter-terrorism strategy and counter-terrorism resolutions of the UN Security Council, and be carried out in strict accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and relevant counter-terrorism conventions. The two sides hope that the Convention on the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism will go into effect at an early date, and a consensus will be reached at the United Nations on a comprehensive convention on international terrorism.

Only the most comprehensive regional cooperation can effectively check terrorism, separatism and extremism. China and Russia are ready to strengthen cooperation with international and regional organizations and their counter-terrorism institutions in the Asia-Pacific region to address new challenges and threats.

4. China and Russia affirm their readiness to strengthen the international non-proliferation regime and emphasize that all countries should fully implement Resolution 1540 of the UN Security Council. The two sides will strengthen export control, which is believed to be an important way to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.

5. The two sides stand firmly for the prevention of arms race in outer space and stress the importance of negotiating an international treaty on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space and the necessity to reestablish the ad hoc committee to discuss the relevant draft treaty in the Disarmament Conference in Geneva.

6. The two sides take notice of the broad prospect of the fast development and wide use of information and communications technologies, systems and methods including the internet, and believe that along with the benefits, the global ICT application and development has also brought some real threats. The two sides are concerned that the development of information industry may be used for purposes detrimental to international security and stability in both military and civil aspects.

China and Russia are ready to hold dialogues and make concerted efforts to enhance domestic and international information security, in particular, in cracking down on criminal and terrorist activities. The two heads of state support the work of the experts group on international information security of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). The group is responsible for formulating action programs on safeguarding international information security, and determining the approach and measure to fully resolve such issues within the SCO framework.

7. The two sides believe that international and regional conflicts and crises should be resolved through political and diplomatic means on the basis of strict adherence to the norms of international law and the consideration of legitimate interests of all relevant parties.

8. China and Russia emphasize that the Iranian nuclear issue should only be resolved peacefully through negotiation.

China and Russia reiterate their commitment to the nuclear non-proliferation regime and emphasize the important role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in addressing the Iranian nuclear issue. China and Russia call on Iran to take necessary and constructive steps to implement relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and the Board of Governors of the IAEA, and at the same time believe that according to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Iran has the right to peaceful use of nuclear energy on condition that it observes all its due obligations under the Treaty. China and Russia will make every effort to work for an early start of the negotiation and seek a durable and comprehensive solution to the Iranian nuclear issue acceptable to the partied concerned.

9. China and Russia reiterate that their position of supporting the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula remains unchanged and believe that to realize this goal is of great importance to peace, security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. The two sides appreciate the positive momentum that emerged in the Six-Party Talks and support the initial actions in addressing the Korean nuclear issue adopted in the fifth round of Six-Party Talks.

The two sides reiterate their readiness to fulfill their respective obligations in the framework of the Six-Party Talks in Beijing and to continue their unremitting efforts to completely and thoroughly resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula through diplomatic means while taking into consideration the legitimate interests and concerns of the parties concerned.

10. China and Russia support stronger international cooperation to help Iraq to bring the situation back to normal at an early date and to safeguard its unity and territorial integrity. The two sides hope all factions in Iraq will enhance unity and engage in extensive dialogue for achieving national reconciliation and harmony.

11. To resolve the Arab-Israel conflicts in a fair, comprehensive and reliable way is a common strategic goal of the international community. This objective can only be achieved through negotiation on the basis of universally recognized international documents such as resolutions of the UN Security Council, the Madrid Principles and the Roadmap.

The two sides call for greater efforts of the international community, especially the Quartet on the Middle East, to bring the situation in the Middle East to normal and revive the peace process involving Palestine, Syria and Lebanon. The two sides hold that a well-prepared international conference on the Middle East which engages all parties concerned will be an effective way to follow up on the efforts.

12. China and Russia believe the peaceful reconstruction in Afghanistan should be pressed ahead and support the endeavor of the Afghan Government for social and economic development, post-war reconstruction and friendship with its neighbors to bring peace, security and economic prosperity to the country at an early date.

China and Russia are concerned about the threat posed by drugs from Afghanistan. To crack down on drug-related crimes, the two sides will work for the establishment of an anti-drug mechanism within the SCO framework for stronger anti-drug cooperation within the Organization. The two sides believe that an "anti-drug belt" around Afghanistan will be able to play an important role.

13. The two countries, as strategic partners of coordination, reaffirm their firm resolve to work more closely for peace, security and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. The two sides will, as always, support each other in multilateral organizations in the Asia-Pacific region, including the SCO, the ASEAN Regional Forum, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and the Asia Cooperation Dialogue.

14. The two sides point out that the unique history and cultural tradition of Central Asia deserve full respect and that Central Asian countries have the right to choose their own development path suitable to their national conditions. The two sides believe that to join forces in combating terrorism, separatism and extremism and safeguarding and promoting peace and stability in Central Asia serve the long-term and fundamental interests of Central Asian countries as well as sound and steady development of the region. China and Russia will strengthen political, economic, trade and security cooperation with Central Asian countries both through bilateral channels and within the SCO framework. They will urge the SCO to broaden exchanges with the Eurasian Economic Community and the Collective Security Treaty Organization in the belief that this will help these organizations address their problems more effectively.

15. To develop multilateral cooperation within the SCO framework is a priority in the foreign policies of both China and Russia. The SCO is growing in influence in the region and beyond. The two sides will maintain coordination and consultation at various levels over issues related to the SCO. It is of great significance to conduct frequent political dialogue on pressing international issues at a time when the SCO is at a new stage of development. The two sides also hold that member states should focus on practical cooperation in economic, social and cultural fields to benefit all their peoples. The two sides will take coordinated steps to promote economic cooperation and trade among member states, carry out joint economic cooperation projects, and encourage exchange of visits in education, culture and other fields.

The 2007 summit of the SCO to be held in Bishkek will set out new tasks in the spirit of the basic documents of the Organization.

China and Russia hope to further enhance the counter-terrorism capacity of the SCO. The two sides stress that the SCO Regional Anti-terrorist Structure plays an important role in promoting cooperation within the SCO framework to combat the "three forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism and address new challenges and threats and that its huge potential should be fully tapped.

16. The two sides support broader trilateral cooperation among China, Russia and India. The first trilateral summit held during the G8 Outreach Session in St. Petersburg in July 2006 injected new vitality into the cooperation among the three countries in various fields. This helps the three countries expand mutually beneficial cooperation in the economic field, strengthen coordination in confronting new challenges and threats, international terrorism in particular, and contribute to peace and stability in Asia and the world at large.

17. China and Russia share the view that the ministers' meeting of Brazil, Russia, India and China held during the 61st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2006 is conducive to increasing interactions among the four countries with the focus on global economic issues in order to move forward globalization in a way that serves common prosperity.

Hu Jintao Vladimir V. Putin

President

The People's Republic of China President

The Russian Federation

Moscow, 26 March 2007

Original source: http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjdt/2649/t309361.htm

Other Joint Communiqués:

China-Japan | China-Russian | China-Sri Lanka | China-India-Russia | China-Mozambique | China-South Africa | China-Zambia | China-Japan-Korea | China-Benin | China-Montenegro | China-Uganda | China-Republic of Congo | China-Ghana | China-Georgia | China-Greece | China-Pakistan | China-Malaysia | China-Kazakhstan | China-Samoa | China-Portugal | China-E.U. | China-Vietnam | China-Armenia | China-Brunei Darussalam | China-Albania | China-Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) | China-Fiji Islands | China-Papua New Guinea | China-Moldova | China-Iran | China-Oman | China-United Kingdom |