China and Russia reached four points of consensus on energy cooperation during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s visit to Russia from Sept. 23 to 25.
At a routine news briefing in Beijing Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said this showed that Sino-Russian energy cooperation has made a big progress.
According to Kong, the four points of consensus include:
l Russia will firmly strengthen cooperation with China in the fields of oil and natural gas.
l Russia will decide the direction of its oil pipeline in Far East region by adequate studies, and Russia will actively consider including China into the oil pipeline network no matter what final plan it takes.
l The two sides both agreed to increase oil trade through land route, aiming at increasing Russia’s oil exportation to China to a total of 10 million tons through railway transportation by 2005 and 15 million tons by 2006.
l The two sides decided to make cooperation plan on natural gas exploitation as soon as possible.
The consensus would put forward the cooperation of mutual benefit between China and Russia in energy sector, especially in the fields of oil and natural gas, Kong said.
The spokesman said Premier Wen’s Russia visit is significant and will exert vital influences on Sino-Russian relations.
During his three-day official visit to Russia, Wen exchanged views with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov on bilateral cooperation in every field, Kong said.
Furthermore, the two leaders laid down specific goals and detailed measures for Sino-Russian cooperation in the years to come, Kong said.
During his stay in Russia, Premier Wen also met with people from Russia’s scientific, technological and educational circles, Kong said.
The visit is in accordance with the wishes of the Chinese and Russian people to further bilateral relations and boost the development of strategic partnership, Kong said, adding that the two nations are determined to deepen and expand cooperation.
Also at yesterday’s briefing, the spokesman said China is willing to make joint efforts with Japan to push forward Sino-Japanese relations.
Kong said that developing the long-term friendship and good neighborliness between China and Japan conforms to the interests of the two peoples and benefits world peace, stability and development. China is ready to promote bilateral relations by learning from history and looking to the future in the spirit of the three political documents signed between them.
On the ongoing visits to the Yasukuni Shrine by Japanese leaders, the spokesman said China has often stated its stand on the issue and strongly opposes any visit to the shrine, as it honors 14 Class-A World War II criminals. He urged the Japanese to correctly recognize and respect history and develop the friendship between the two countries.
Turning to the nuclear standoff on the Korean Peninsula, the spokesman said China has not abandoned the hope of resolving the issue through the six-party talks.
Kong said China is convinced that the mechanism of six-party talks is effective in achieving the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula as well as its peace and stability.
Acknowledging the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula is a complicated and prolonged one, he said its settlement requires the concerted and arduous efforts of the relevant parties.
Kong called for all the parties to remain confident and take pragmatic, flexible approaches to address the issue.
The Chinese side hopes that the next round of six-party talks could be held as early as possible, Kong said, pledging China will, as always, play a constructive role and continue to do active persuasion and promotion work.
The six-party talks, aiming at resolving the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula, involve the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the United States, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Russia and China.
During the third round of talks in June this year, the six parties agreed to meet again before the end of September.
In another development, Kong said the development of friendly relations between India and Pakistan not only conforms to the interests of their people, but also benefits peace and stability in the region.
Kong said India and Pakistan are two major countries in South Asia and good neighbors of China. So China hopes the two countries will live peacefully and resolve their differences through dialogue.
The spokesman said China welcomes the recent meeting in New York between the leaders of the two countries, and hopes both sides make concrete efforts to further relax bilateral relations, enhance mutual trust and make progress in dialogue.
(Xinhua News Agency, CRI.com September 29, 2004)
