China, Russia presidents hail relations
Posted: 15 November 2009 0533 hrs

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SINGAPORE : The presidents of historically mistrustful neighbours China and Russia Saturday hailed the strength of Sino-Russian ties as they met on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific summit in Singapore.

"Your visit to Russia this summer was a big success, we managed to discuss all issues," Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao, referring to Hu's trip to Moscow in June.

Hu said that every meeting between the two heads of state "is very positive, plays an important role for Russia-Chinese relations, for our cooperation."

A statement released by China's foreign ministry after the meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum quoted Hu calling for even closer ties.

Hu told Medvedev the two sides should "increase cooperation and coordination on important international and regional issues" and "make all efforts toward pragmatic cooperation," the statement said.

Hu singled out the two sides' growing energy ties, urging further "cooperation in natural gas, nuclear power and other major spheres on a basis of mutual benefit and win-win outcomes." The statement gave no details.

Russia is seeking new buyers of its vast energy reserves as traditional European consumers have been looking to reduce their dependence on Russian gas, while China seeks new energy resources to fuel its growing economy.

The two nations signed a major agreement in October that would see about 70 billion cubic metres of natural gas sent to China each year.

The talks between the two leaders comes as Moscow and Beijing seek to put behind them the rivalries of the Cold War, a period when the two main Communist powers eyed each other with suspicion.

They have ended a decades-long dispute over their 4,300-kilometre (2,700-mile) border and have played up the importance of trade between Russia's Far East region and northwestern China.

But bilateral trade has taken a major hit amid the economic crisis with Russian-Chinese trade turnover plunging almost 35 percent in the first nine months of 2009 from the year earlier, Russian officials have said.

- AFP /ls