Moscow Optimistic About Further Russia-china Relations

Moscow is optimistic about further development of Russo-Chinese relations, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov told a news conference Sunday following a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Tang Jiaxuan. "We are set to step up bilateral contacts in all areas", he said adding that such a dynamic development of the two countries' relations is not aimed against third countries, but at promoting regional stability. The two countries, in particular, will be seeking to boost bilateral trade turnover, something they managed to achieve in the previous and current years, according to the Russian minister. The Chinese foreign minister, in his turn, agreed with his Russian opposite number in giving a high assessment to today's talks. Earlier in the day he had a meeting with President Vladimir Putin which lasted over 70 minutes, Mr. Jiaxuan recalled. There have been attained two basic Moscow visit objectives - a political preparation for the July visit to Russia by Chinese leader Jiang Zemin and the signing of a protocol on the draft treaty on good-neighbourliness, friendship and partnership, added Tang Jiaxuan.