Russia And China Will Further Interaction In Combating Terrorism

The first meeting of the Russian-Chinese working group on anti-terror to be held in Beijing will be of great importance for strengthening bilateral strategic partnership. President of Russia Vladimir Putin and chairman of the PRC Jiang Zemin stated this during their telephone conversation on Monday. Vladimir Putin and Jiang Zemin also stressed that Russia and the PRC would continue to strengthen their interaction in the struggle against terrorism. The leaders of the two countries also discussed the problems of strategic stability and the questions of postwar settlement in Afghanistan. Vladimir Putin informed the Chinese leader of the results of his visit to the USA. As for the bilateral group on anti-terror, as informed sources reported, its formation must be announced at the first Beijing meeting. It will be a mechanism of regular consultations on questions of anti-terrorism, in which diplomats and representatives of the interested Ministries and departments of both countries will take part and which will be headed by Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Russia and China. Analogous groups have already been set up between Russia and the USA, and between Russia and India.