Russian and Chinese leaders to discuss "Indian-Pakistani problem"

The relief of tension between India and Pakistan is to be discussed during a meeting between the Russian and Chinese leaders, Vladimir Putin and Jiang Zemin, in St. Petersburg, said the Russian foreign ministry's official spokesman Alexander Yakovenko. He pointed out the common interests and similar positions of Moscow and Beijing on the principal issues of the security in the region.

Moscow is interested in stopping the current conflict on the Indian-Pakistani border from escalating into an open war with unpredictable consequences, he said. "It is very important for the security in the region and in the entire world," the spokesman stressed.

It is vitally important that Pakistan and India should start a political dialogue, while Moscow is ready to contribute to this process, he added.