Resources >> Foreign Policy >> ...
Source: www.mid.ru
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
Department of Information and Press
119200, Moscow G-200, Smolenskaya Sennaya Pl., 32/34
Tel.: (095) 244-4119, Fax: 244-4112
e-mail: dip@mid.ru, web-address: www.mid.ru
Unofficial translation from Russian
1262-01-06-2005
Foreign Minister Lavrov: First of all, I would like to express appreciation to the leadership of Maritime Territory for the organization of our meeting in Vladivostok. Chinese Foreign Minister Li and I have thoroughly discussed the state of our bilateral relations from the vantage point of the implementation of the accords of the previous summit of the heads of our states and in the context of the preparation of documents for the next meeting at the highest level between China and Russia. For the next summit a solid package of documents is being prepared, concerning political problems, the situation in the world and documents that are connected with a further deepening of the Russian-Chinese strategic partnership in various fields: economic, humanitarian, in the sphere of labor resources, and so on.
We expressed satisfaction with the ongoing, well-structured character of the Russian-Chinese strategic partnership.
We paid much attention to Russia-China engagement within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, especially with regard to the fact that in two days' time Foreign Minister Li and I will be attending the SCO Foreign Ministers Meeting in Astana, where questions of preparation for the next summit of this organization will be considered. We agree that it is necessary to make additional efforts to raise the effectiveness of the SCO and of its structures, primarily in the antiterrorist drive, with regard to the events which are taking place in Central Asia and also with regard to the need to use the SCO to prevent destabilization in this important region.
Considering that Foreign Minister Li and I in our time worked as the permanent representatives of our countries to the United Nations, we paid enough attention to the questions of the reform of the UN and its Security Council. On these questions our positions are close or coincide, in particular where the need is concerned to solve the question of reform only on the basis of the broadest possible consensus.
Question: There have appeared reports in the Russian media in the last two days, citing a SCO source, that a Chinese contingent may appear in Kyrgyzstan. Was this discussed today?
Foreign Minister Lavrov: There were also reports that in Kyrgyzstan there might appear an additional Russian military contingent in the form of a second base. We've read all this, but I understand the Kyrgyz leadership has already refuted these reports. In any case, no official requests to this effect have come in. Foreign Minister Li and I have today exchanged our impressions of these news reports. On the essence of the matter I would like to say that, sure enough, the leadership of Kyrgyzstan has a sovereign right to decide how to ensure the security of its state. It has once again affirmed its international commitments, as Foreign Minister Li told me, including in the course of the visit of Acting Foreign Minister Roza Otunbayeva to Beijing. But I repeat that it is up to Bishkek to decide how to ensure the security of its state in the first place.
Question: At the end of June, PRC President Hu Jintao will arrive in Russia for a state visit. What significance will this visit have for the further advancement of Russian-Chinese relations?
Foreign Minister Lavrov (answers after Li Zhaoxing): I can add that the significance of the visit in full, comprehensive measure will be understandable after it takes place. But I agree with my colleague that relations between Russia and China take on an ever increasing significance from the viewpoint of the interests of each of our countries in economy, the transport sector, energy, high technologies, culture, education, and so on. It will be recalled that the Year of Russia will be held in China next year, and the Year of China in Russia in 2007.
China and Russia as permanent members of the UN Security Council bear special responsibility for the solution of global problems and for the maintenance of peace and security. We are allies in the struggle against international terrorism, aggressive extremism, drug trafficking, and organized crime. That is why so important is the role of our two countries together with our Central Asian neighbors in overcoming and eliminating these threats in the Central Asian region.
Our partnership in the world arena is not directed against any other country. On the contrary, we are convinced that the development of this partnership exerts a positive influence on the international situation.
I shall mention here, being in Vladivostok, such an aspect of our conversations as the solution of the problems that sometimes arise in connection with the labor activity of Chinese citizens in Russia and of Russian citizens in China. We have today agreed to increase attention to this question, among other things to work out additional legal instruments to settle the problems that arise in this sphere.
Foreign Minister Lavrov (adds): Tomorrow I expect to visit the construction site of the Center for the Rehabilitation of Children with Oncohematologic Diseases. The Russian MFA supports this project and is trying its best to help mobilize sponsor resources for its construction. So that I join in extending congratulations on International Children's Day.
June 1, 2005
Economic | Foreign Policy | Maps | Russia | Security |
Voices from Asia: Editorials and Opinion from Asian Newspapers | Asia-Pacific Distance Calculator | Database |