I. Review of Bilateral Relations
Date of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations: October 2, 1949
(At that time between the PRC and the USSR. After the Soviet Union was disintegrated, China and Russia signed on December 27, 1991 a summery of talks, by which the question of succession of the relations between China and Russia was solved.)
1. Review of Bilateral Relations(Sept-Dec.,1999)
September 12, 1999, in Auckland, New Zealand, President Jiang Zemin met with Russian Prime Minister Putin on the sidelines of the Informal Leadership meeting of APEC. Putin expressed the willingness to expand economic cooperation and trade between the two countries and reiterated Russia's consistent one-China stand on the Taiwan question.
September 23, 1999, in New York, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan met with Russian Foreign Minister Ivanov. The two sides remarked that they would join hands in bring success to President Yeltsin's visit to China in the 4th quarter of that year and the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia. Foreign Minister Tang expressed sympathy and support for the forceful measures taken by the Russian side in maintaining stability, national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
September 30, 1999, President Yeltsin called President Jiang Zemin through the hotline to congratulate China on the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and China.
September 30, 1999, President Yeltsin had an exclusive interview with Xinhua News Agency on the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and China.
September 30, 1999, Chinese Ambassador to the Russian Federation Wu Tao held a grand reception at the embassy in Moscow to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Speaker Seleznev of the Russian State Duma and First Vice Prime Minister Khristenko attended the ceremony at invitation.
October 1, 1999, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Wu Tao held a luncheon in Moscow to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia. Russian Prime Minister Putin was present and gave a speech.
October 2, 1999, Premier Zhu Rongji attended the reception held by the Russian embassy in China on the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and China. Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan and Russian Ambassador to China Rogachev gave a speech respectively.
October 20, 1999, President Jiang Zemin and Yeltsin exchanged letters of congratulation on the inauguration of the largest project of economic cooperation so far between China and Russia, Tianwan Nuclear Power Station. Vice-Premier Wu Bangguo attended the inauguration ceremony.
October 30, 1999, President Yeltsin addressed a letter to President Jiang Zemin to elucidate Russia's position on the Anti-Ballisitic Missile Treaty.
November 4, 1999, Assistant Foreign Minister Wu Donghe met with and hosted a banquet for the visiting Deputy Foreign Minister Sergeyev of Russia. The two sides had a wide exchange of views on major issues existing in bilateral consular relations.
November 6, 1999, Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yingfan met with visiting Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergeyev. They had discussions on diplomatic premises and amendments to the agreements on the exchanges of citizens and on the mutual exemption of visas for group tourists.
November 15, 1999, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan addressed a letter of thanks to his Russian counterpart, Ivanov, for Russia's joining hands with China in co-sponsoring the draft resolution of upholding and adhering to the ABM Treaty and voting for it at the First Committee of the 54th UN General Assembly.
November 17, 1999, Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Guchang met with Russian Ambassador to China, Rogachev, by appointment. Rogachev was asked to forward a letter from Russian Foreign Minister Ivanov to Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan on the resolution adopted by the First Committee of the UN General Assembly concerning upholding and adhering to the ABM Treaty.
November 26, 1999, Assistant Foreign Minister Wang Guangya and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Berdennikov held the 2nd China-Russia consultation on strategic stability in Moscow.
November 26, 1999, Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Guchang met with Russian Ambassador to China, Rogachev, by appointment. Rogachev was asked to forward Russian Prime Minister Putin's letter on bilateral economic cooperation and trade to Premier Zhu Rongji.
November 27, 1999, Russian President Yeltsin sent a telegraph of congratulation to President Jiang Zemin on China's successful launch of a manned experimental space aircraft, "Shenzhou".
December 2, 1999, President Jiang Zemin answered President Yeltsin's letter dated October 30 on the question of ABM Treaty.
December 3, 1999, Vice Foreign Minister Wang Guangya met with Russian Ambassador to China, Rogachev, by appointment. Rogachev forwarded Russian Foreign Minister Ivanov's verbal message to Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan on the question of Iraq.
December 4, 1999, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan answered Russian Foreign Minister Ivanov's letter on the question of Iraq, stating that China and Russia holding similar stands on that question.
December 9-10, 1999, Russian President Yeltsin paid a visit to China and held the second informal summit with President Jiang Zemin. President Jiang held talks with President Yeltsin on two separate occasions. Chairman Li Peng and Premier Zhu Rongji met with President Yeltsin respectively. The leaders of the two countries had a wide exchange of views on bilateral relations and international issues of common concern and reached new consensus. The two sides issued a joint statement and joint communique. The foreign ministers of the two countries signed three inter-governmental agreements.
December 9, 1999, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan met with and hosted a banquet for Russian Foreign Minister Ivanov who was accompanying President Yeltsin to China. The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on international issues of mutual concern.
December 16, 1999, Russian President Yeltsin sent a telegraph to President Jiang Zemin to congratulate China on its resumption of exercise of sovereignty over Macao.
December 19, 1999, Russian Foreign Minister Ivanov sent a telegraph to congratulate China on its resumption of exercise of sovereignty over Macao.
December 20, 1999, Chinese Ambassador to Russia, Wu Tao, held a grand reception to celebrate Macao's return to the motherland. Deputy Prime Minister Klebanov and President Gerashchenko of Russia's Central Bank were present at invitation.
December 20, 1999, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Karasin attended the ceremony celebrating Macao's return to the motherland on behalf of the Russian Government.
December 31, 1999, President Jiang Zemin addressed a letter to Yeltsin, expressing regret over his resignation from the position as Russian president and speaking highly of his historical contribution to the development of China-Russia relations.
2. Development of Bilateral Relations and Important High-level Exchanges, Major Events and Bilateral Documents
2000
January 1, President Jiang Zemin sent an oral message to Vladimir Putin to congratulate him on his appointment as acting president of Russia, and express the hope that he could work with him in a joint effort to develop and deepen the strategic partnership of cooperation between the two countries.
January 13, Boris Yeltsin personally bade farewell to President Jiang Zemin on the hot line. They both expressed their satisfaction over the mood of friendliness and trust that prevailed in their contacts, and felt relieved and full of confidence about the development of bilateral relations between the two countries in the 21st century.
January 16-18, the vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, state councilor and defense minister Chi Haotian visited Russia. He met with Acting President Vladimir Putin, Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov and had talks with Russian Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev.
January 19, the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Li Peng sent a message to Gennady Seleznyov to congratulate him on his re-election as chairman of the Russian State Duma and express the desire to continue to work together with him to further strengthen the cooperation between the legislatures of the two countries.
January 25, Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Guchang met on appointment with the Russian ambassador to China Igor Alexeyevich Rogachev, who delivered the letter of Spring Festival greetings by Acting President Vladimir Putin to President Jiang Zemin.
February 24, Premier Zhu Rongji wrote to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to acknowledge his letter of November 22, 1999.
February 25, President Jiang Zemin sent a letter to Acting President Vladimir Putin in acknowledgement of his Spring Festival greetings.
February 28 - March 1, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan paid an official visit to Russia. During his visit, he met with Russian Acting President Vladimir Putin and had extensive and in-depth exchange of views with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov on bilateral relations and international issues of common interest. The two sides issued a joint press communiqu岢 on the Chinese Foreign Minister’s visit to Russia and signed two government agreements on mutual visits by the Chinese and Russian citizens and mutual exemption of group tourist visas.
March 14-21, the human rights representative of the Russian Federation Oleg Mironov and his party visited China. Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan met with him. The two sides exchanged views on their respective human rights situations and experiences.
March 27, President Jiang Zemin, on behalf of the Chinese government and people and in his own name, sent a message of congratulation to Vladimir Putin expressing heartfelt felicitations on his election as president of the Russian Federation.
On the same day President Jiang Zemin had talks with the Russian president-elect on the hot line to express again his congratulations on the latter’s election and appreciated the efforts made by him as acting president to promote continued and stable development of Sino-Russian strategic partnership of cooperation.
March 29-30, General Chi Haotian, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, state councilor and defense minister, attended the meeting of the five defense ministers of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan, and had a separate meeting with the Russian defense minister Marshal Igor Sergeyev.
April 12, while attending the ASEAN Commerce Summit, the foreign trade and economic cooperation minister Shi Guangsheng held talks with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov and Trade Minister Fradkov separately.
April 20, Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Guchang met on appointment with the Russian ambassador to China Igor Alexeyevich Rogachev, who congratulated China on its ninth success to defeat the anti-China motion sponsored by the west at the 56th session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and conveyed the oral message of the Russian foreign minister Igor Ivanov to Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan concerning the proposed discussion of the Chechnya issue at the meeting of the UN Commission on Human Rights.
May 7, President Jiang Zemin, on behalf of the Chinese government and people and in his own name, sent a message of congratulation to Vladimir Putin on his assumption of office as president of Russia.
May 12, Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Guchang met with the deputy chief editor of the Russian News Agency-TASS, who was on a visit of China at the invitation of the Guangming Daily.
May 16, Premier Zhu Rongji sent a letter of congratulation to Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov on his assumption of office as prime minister of the Russian Federation.
May 18, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a letter to President Jiang Zemin in acknowledgement of President Jiang’s message of congratulation on his assumption of the office.
On the same day Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan sent a message of congratulation to Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov on his re-appointment as foreign minister of Russia.
May 19, the vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, state councilor and defense minister Chi Haotian sent a letter of congratulation to Russian Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev on his retention of post as defense minister.
May 31, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov sent a letter to Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan in acknowledgement of the latter’s message of congratulation on his re-appointment as foreign minister.
June 8, President Jiang Zemin received the call of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the hot line. The two leaders had extensive and in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and international issues of common concern.
June 9, the Russian ambassador to China Rogachev hosted the Russian National Day reception, and the vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Jiang Chunyun and the leading members of the departments concerned were present on the occasion.
June 12, President Jiang Zemin sent a message of congratulation to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the occasion of the Russian National Day.
June 24-30, the chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the Russian State Duma Rogozin led a delegation to visit China, and NPC Standing Committee Chairman Li Peng met with him.
June 27, Vice Premier Wen Jiabao met with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Valentina Matviyenko in Geneva, where he was attending the special session of the UN General Assembly on social development. The two sides exchanged views on matters concerning the Sino-Russian relations, social development and China’s accession to WTO.
July 4, the foreign ministers of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan held a meeting in Dushanbe and signed a joint communiqu岢.
July 5, during the meeting of the heads of state of “Shanghai 5” in Dushanbe, President Jiang Zemin met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and invited him to breakfast. The two leaders exchanged views on extensive matters of common interest.
July 15-16 and 23-26, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov visited China. Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan held talks with him and the two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and international issues. Apart from Beijing, the Russian foreign minister also visited Shanghai.
July 17-19, Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a state visit to China. During the visit, President Jiang Zemin held two rounds of talks with the Russian president, one with limited aides and the other with full entourage, and NPC Standing Committee Chairman Li Peng, Premier Zhu Rongji and the chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Li Ruihuan met with the Russian president separately. The two heads of state signed together the Beijing Declaration of the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation, and the Joint Statement of the President of the People’s Republic of China and the President of the Russian Federation on the Issue of Anti Ballistic Missiles. Seven inter-government and inter-department agreements were also signed.
On the evening of July 26, President Jiang Zemin received the call of the Russian president Vladimir Putin on hot line and the two leaders exchanged views on bilateral relations and international issues of common concern.
August 9, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan sent a message to Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov to express his sympathies and solicitudes for the wounded and bereaved families of the strong explosion at Pushkin subway station in central Moscow.
August 21, President Jiang Zemin, on behalf of the Chinese government and people and in his own name, sent a message to President Vladimir Putin to express his condolences to the president and, through him, to the 118 officers and sailors who were killed in the distress of the Kursk nuclear submarine and his sympathies and solicitudes for the bereaved families.
August 24, Vice Foreign Minister Ji Peiding and others went to the Russian embassy in China to attend the ceremony to offer condolences to the officers and sailors who were killed in the distress of the Kursk nuclear submarine.
August 31, the Chinese NPC Standing Committee chairman Li Peng met with the Russian State Duma chairman Gennady Seleznyov in New York, where he was attending the UN Millennium Parliament Leaders Conference, and the two leaders exchanged views on further enhancing parliamentary exchanges between the two countries.
September 6, President Jiang Zemin met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in New York, where he was attending the UN Millennium Summit Conference, and the two leaders discussed matters mainly concerning Sino-Russian relations, international situation and etc.
September 11-19, NPC Standing Committee Chairman Li Peng, accompanied by his wife Zhu Lin, paid an official visit to Russia. During the visit, Chairman Li Peng met separately with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minster Mikhail Kasyanov and held talks with Yegor Stroyev and Gennady Seleznyov, the speakers of the upper and lower houses of Parliament. The two sides signed two inter-parliament agreements. Chairman Li also met with the former Russian president Boris Yeltsin, the former prime ministers Chernomyrdin and Yevgeny Primakov and other well-known statesmen and parliamentarians from different parties before going to visit Novosibirsk and Vladivostok.
September 13, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan met with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov in New York, where he was attending the 55th Session of the UN General Assembly.
September 14, on behalf of the Russian people and in his own name, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a message to President Jiang Zemin to express sympathies and solicitudes for the bereaved and wounded families of the explosion accident in Xinjiang.
September 16-21, at the invitation of the Federation of International Peace Foundations, the Chinese delegation to the peace and disarmament conference headed by He Luli, vice chairwoman of the NPC Standing Committee and president of the Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament paid a goodwill visit to Russia.
October 10, Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Guchang met on appointment with the Russian ambassador to China Rogachev, who conveyed an oral message about the Yugoslav question sent by the Russian foreign minister Igor Ivanov, who was on the middle-east visit, to the Chinese foreign minister Tang Jiaxuan.
October 19, the Sino-Russian Committee of Friendship, Peace and Development held its third plenary meeting in Beijing. President Jiang Zemin met with and entertained Volsky, the Russian cochairman of the Committee and president of the Russian Union of Industrial Entrepreneurs, and Vice President Hu Jintao met with all the members of the Russian delegation to the Committee meeting. Also present at the meeting were members of the Russian entrepreneurs delegation who had come to China with the Russian committee members.
October 20-25, the vice chairman of the Federal Council of the Russian Federation Assembly Vladimir Platonov led a delegation to visit China. NPC Standing Committee Chairman Li Peng and Vice Chairman Bu He met and entertained Vladimir Platonov and his party separately.
October 25-31, Yevgeny Primakov, leader of the “Father-All Russia” parliamentarian group of the Russian State Duma and former Russian prime minister, paid a visit to China. President Jiang Zemin and Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan met with Primakov and his party.
October 31-November 2, the Russian deputy prime minister and the Russian cochairman of the Sino-Russian Premiers Regular Meeting Committee Ilya Klebanov came to China to attend the fourth Committee meeting and to make preparations for Prime Minister Kasyanov’s China visit. He met with State Councilor Wu Yi in a small group and the two leaders also held talks in a bigger group. He also met with the vice chairman of the Central Military Commission Zhang Wannian.
November 3-4, Russian Prime Minister Kasyanov paid an official visit to China and held with Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji the fifth regular meeting of the Chinese Premier and the Russian Prime Minister. During the visit, President Jiang Zemin and NPC Standing Committee Chairman Li Peng met separately with the Russian Prime Minister, and Premier Zhu Rongji held two rounds of talks with him, one with limited aides and the other with full entourage. The two sides had thorough and in-depth discussions on matters concerning mainly bilateral relations, especially the further development of cooperation between the two countries in the fields of economy, science and technology and energy resources. The two sides signed fourteen documents on bilateral cooperation, including the Joint Communiqu岢 of the Fifth Regular Meeting Between the Chinese Premier and the Russian Prime Minister and the Summery of the Fourth Meeting of the Sino-Russian Premiers Regular Meeting Committee.
November15, during his stay in Brunei to attend the eighth unofficial meeting of the leaders of APEC members, President Jiang Zemin held a meeting with President Vladimir Putin alone and the two leaders exchanged views mainly on matters of bilateral relations and economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.
November 19-25, the delegation of the Russo-Chinese Parliamentarian Friendship Group of the Russian State Duma headed by Vladimir Lukin, vice chairman of the Russian State Duma and president of the Friendship Group, paid a visit to China. NPC Standing Committee Chairman Li Peng met with Vladimir Lukin and his party.
November 28-December 1, Vice Foreign Minister Yang Wenchang visited Russia and had consultation with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Fedotoff on the cadre question at vice foreign minister level. During the visit, he also had consultation with the Deputy Foreign Minister on the Asian situation.
December 3-12, Vice Premier Li Lanqing paid an official visit to Russia. During the visit, he met with Russian Prime Minister Kasyanov, and together with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Matviyenko, presided over the first meeting of the Sino-Russian Committee of Cooperation in Education, Culture, Health and Sports, and signed the documents on cooperation. He also met with the former prime ministers of Russia Chernomyrdin and Primakov. Apart from Moscow he also visited St. Petersburg, Nizhniy Novgorod and Samara and met the local leaders there. Moscow University and the Samara National University of Aeronautics and Cosmonautics conferred on him the title of honorary professor and the degree of honorary doctor respectively.
December 19, Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Deguang met with the Russia-China Youth Friendship Delegation, who came to China in pursuance of the 2000 working program of the Sino-Russian Committee of Friendship, Peace and Development. The two sides exchanged views on the state of affairs since the formation of the Committee, matters concerning future exchanges and etc.
December 25-28, Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Guchang visited Russia and held consultation at vice foreign minister level with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister . The two sides exchanged views on matters concerning discussion and signing of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation Between China and Russia and the remainder of the boundary between the two countries, etc.
2001
From January 5 to 11, at the invitation of the Finance and Economy Committee of the National People's Congress, Kedladsky, Chairman of the Economic Committee of the Russian Federal Council, visited China.
On January 22, Foreign Minister Ivanov sent a congratulatory cable to Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan on the occasion of the Spring Festival.
On January 24, President Putin sent a congratulatory cable to President Jiang Zemin on the occasion of the Spring Festival.
On January 24, Steloyev, Chairman of the Russian Federal Council, and Shelezniov, Chairman of the State Duma, respectively sent congratulatory cards to Chairman Li Peng on the occasion of the Spring Festival.
On February 19, at the request of the Russian side, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan talked over the phone with Foreign Minister Ivanov. The two sides had an exchange of views on issues of common interest.
On February 23, Liu Guchang, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, held consultations on bilateral relations in Moscow with Loshokov, Russian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.
From March 28 to 30, Loshokov, Russian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, visited China and held consultations with Liu Guchang, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs.
On April 2, Wang Guangya, Vice Foreign Minister, held consultations in Beijing with Olzonnichze, Russian Vice Foreign Minister, on international and regional issues of common interest.
On April 4, Zhang Deguang, Vice Foreign Minister, held the third round of China-Russian consultations on strategic stability in Beijing with Mamedov, Russian Vice Foreign Minister.
From April 9 to 15, Zhu Yuli, Member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and Chairman of the China-Russian Friendly Deputies' Group, visited Russia.
From April 29 to May 1, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan paid an official visit to Russia. The two foreign ministers signed a protocol confirming the version agreed upon through consensus of the Treaty of Good Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation.
On May 24, Premier Zhu Rongji sent a cable to Kasyanov, Russian Prime Minister, expressing his sympathy over the serious flooding in some areas along the Volga and Lena rivers.
From June 11 to 20, Huang Yicheng, China's Chairman of the China-Russian Friendship, Peace and Development Committee, visited Russia at the invitation of Volsky, his Russian counterpart.
On June 12, President Jiang Zemin, Chairman Li Peng and Premier Zhu Rongji respectively wrote to President Putin, Federal Council Chairman Steloyev and State Duma Chairman Shelezniov, extending their congratulations on Russian National Day.
On June 14, President Jiang Zemin and President Putin held a bilateral meeting during their participation in the first meeting in Shanghai of the heads of state of the members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and had an exchange of views on bilateral relations and international issues of common interest.
On June 15, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan and Foreign Minister Ivanov had a breakfast during the first meeting of the heads of state of the members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and exchanged views on bilateral relations and international issues of common interest.
On June 18, at the request of the Russian side, President Jiang Zemin had a telephone conversation in Shanghai with President Putin.
From June 24 to 30, at the invitation of the Association for International Understanding of China, Khakamada, Vice Chairman of Russian State Duma and Co-Chairman of the Union of Rightist Forces, visited China.
From June 26 to July 2, Shelivanov, Chairman of the Russian Youth Work Sub-Committee of the China-Russian Friendship, Peace and Development, led the Russian Youth Delegation on a visit to China.
From July 3 to 10, at the invitation of the Association for International Understanding of China, Chlingalov, Vice Chairman of the Russian State Duma, visited China as head of a delegation.
On July 8, Liu Guchang, Assistant Foreign Minister, met with Gesiukov, visiting Russian Vice Foreign Minister, and held an exchange of views on issues of bilateral relations.
From July 10 to 14, the Beijing Olympic Games Bid Delegation headed by Vice Premier Li Lanqing went to Moscow to participate in the 112th plenary meeting of the International Olympic Committee. Beijing won the right to host the 2008 Olympic Games.
From July 15 to 18, President Jiang Zemin paid a state visit to Russia at the invitation of President Putin. President Jiang held talks with President Putin and met with Russian Prime Minister Kasyanov, Chairman Steloyev of the Federal Council and Chairman Sheleznikov of the State Duma. The two heads of state signed the Treaty of Good Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation. They issued the Moscow Joint Statement of the Heads of State of China and Russia. President Jiang also visited Volgograd.
On July 26, at the request of the Russian side, President Jiang Zemin had a telephone conversation with President Putin. The two sides had an exchange of views on issues of common interest.
On July 26, Foreign Minister Tang Jiexuan met with Russian Foreign Minister Ivanov during his participation in the 8th foreign ministers' meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Hanoi. The two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and international issues.
From August 22 to 24, at the invitation of Vice Premier Li Lanqing, Matviyenko Russian Vice Prime Minister and Chairperson of the China-Russian Committee on Education, Cultural, Health and Sports Cooperation, visited China and took part in the second meeting of the committee.
From September 3 to 5, State Councilor Wu Yi, at the head of a delegation, participated in the fifth meeting in Moscow of Committee on Regular Meetings of Heads of Government between China and Russia at the invitation of Klebanov, Russian Chairman of the committee and made preparations for Premier Zhu Rongji's coming visit to Russia.
From September 7 to 12, at the invitation of Russian Prime Minister Asyanov, Zhu Rongji, Premier of the State Council, participated in the sixth regular meeting of China-Russian prime ministers in St. Petersburg and paid an official visit to Russia. Premier Zhu held talks with Prime Minister Asyanov in St. Petersburg and met with President Putin and Federal Council Chairman Steloyev and attended the luncheon sponsored by Russian personages of industrial, commercial and scientific and technological circles. The two sides signed the Joint Communique of the Sixth Regular Meeting of China-Russian Heads of Government and the Minutes of the Fifth Meeting of the Committee on Regular Meetings of Heads of Government between China and Russia..
From September 13 to 20, Song Qingwei, Vice Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress, visited Russia.
From September 17 to 21, Nikulin, Russian member of the China-Russian Friendship, Peace and Development Committee and Vice Chairman of the Russian Industrial Entrepreneurs Union, led the Russian Entrepreneurs Delegation on a visit to China.
On September 18, President Jiang Zemin had a telephone conversation with President Putin on the September 11 terrorist incident. The two sides fully agreed that terrorism constituted a grave threat to world peace and stability and had become a serious international public scourge. With regard to combating terrorism, international cooperation is both necessary and urgent.
On September 26, Prime Minister Kasyanov sent a cable to Premier Zhu Rongji, congratulating him on China's National Day.
On September 28, Foreign Minister Ivanov sent a cable to Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, congratulating him on China's National Day.
On September 29, President Putin sent a cable to President Jiang Zemin, congratulating him on China's National Day.
From October 4 to 10, Zhu Kaixuan, Chairman of Education, Science, Culture and Public Health Committee of the National People's Congress, visited Russia.
On October 17, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan met with Foreign Minister Ivanov in Shanghai who came to attend the meeting of double ministers of APEC. The two sides had an exchange of views on bilateral relations and international issues of common interest.
On October 20, President Jiang Zemin met with President Putin in Shanghai who was participating in the informal meeting of APEC heads of state. The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and international issues of common interest.
From October 25 to 29, the fourth plenary meeting of the China-Russian Friendship, Peace and Development Committee was held in Moscow. The committee members of the two countries had a discussion on the theme "How to implement the Treaty of Good Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between China and Russia" and put forth a series of specific proposals. The plenary meeting adopted the work plan for 2002.
From October 27 to 28, Vice President Hu Jintao paid a working visit to Russia at the invitation of President Putin. The two sides mainly had an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and international issues of common interest.
From October 30 to November 8, Glagiyev, Chairman of the Economic Policy and Enterprise Management Committee of Russian State Duma, visited China at the invitation of the Finance and Economy Committee of the National People's Congress.
On November 11, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan met with Foreign Minister Ivanov during his participation in the meetings of the United Nations General Assembly. The two sides had an exchange of views on bilateral relations and international issues of common interest.
On November 19, President Jiang Zemin had a telephone conversation with President Putin at the latter's request.
From November 28 to 29, Vice Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Russian Vice Foreign Minister Safnov held the first meeting of the China-Russian Anti-terrorist Working Group. The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on international anti-terrorist struggles and strengthening anti-terrorist cooperation between the two countries.
On December 6, Liu Guchang, Assistant Foreign Minister, held consultations in Moscow with Loshokov, Russian Vice Foreign Minister.
From December 9 to 13, Shelezniov, Chairman of Russian State Duma, visited China at the invitation of Li Peng, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.
On December 17, Vice Foreign Minister Wang Guangya held consultations in Moscow with Russian Vice Foreign Minister Mamedov.
On December 24, President Putin sent a congratulatory cable to President Jiang Zemin on the occasion of the New Year.
On December 26, Prime Minister Kasyanov wrote to Premier Zhu Rongji extending his congratulations on the occasion of the New Year.
On December 26, Foreign Minister Ivanov wrote to Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan congratulating him on the New Year.
On December 29, Prime Minister Kasyanov sent a New Year card to Vice President Hu Jintao.
January 2002 to August 2002
On January 7, President Jiang Zemin met with Russian Foreign Minister Ivanov who came to China to participate in the non-routine meeting of the foreign ministers of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
On January 7, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan held talks with Foreign Minister Ivanov, who came to Beijing to take part in the non-routine meeting of the foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states. They had an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations, regional and international issues.
On February 13, Russian President Putin sent a message to President Jiang Zemin, congratulating him on the Spring Festival.
On February 22, President Jiang Zemin called Russian President Putin by the phone and had an in-depth, extensive exchange of views on bilateral relations and issues of common interest.
On February 28, Liu Guchang, Assistant Foreign Minister, exchanged in Beijing with Loshokov, Russian Vice Foreign Minister, the instruments of ratification signed earlier respectively by President Jiang Zemin and President Putin for the Treaty of Good Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between China and Russia. They signed the certificate of the exchange of instruments of ratification. The treaty came into force forth with.
From March 14 to 16, at the invitation of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Shoygu, Russian Minister of Emergencies and Natural Disasters, visited China.
On March 20, at the request of the Russian side, President Jiang Zemin had a conversation through the hot line with President Putin.
From March 25 to April 2, Sjepashin, Chairman of the Russian National Auditing Office, visited China.
From April 9 to 11, Vice Foreign Minister Wang Guangya went to Russia to hold consultations with Russian Vice Foreign Ministers Mamedov and Safnov.
On April 18, a Russian delegation headed by Chilingalov, Vice Chairman of the State Duma, came to China to take part in the third annual meeting of the Peace Association of Asian Parliaments.
From April 19 to 22, Khristenko, Russian Vice Prime Minister, Russian Chairman of the Committee on Regular Meetings of Heads of Government between China and Russia, visited China. Wu Yi, State Councilor and Chinese Chairperson of the committee, had working meetings with him. The two sides signed minutes of talks.
From April 24 to 26, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan went to Russia to participate in the foreign ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. During his stay, he held working sessions with Russian Foreign Minister Ivanov and signed the Consular Affairs Treaty between the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation.
On May 22, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan had a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Ivanov at the latter's request. The two sides had an exchange of views on issues of common interest.
From May 31 to June 2, S. Ivanov, Russian Minister of Defense, visited China.
On June 7, President Jiang Zemin met with Russian President Putin during his participation in the summit meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The two sides had an exchange of views on bilateral relations and international issues of common interest.
From June 14 to 16, Khristenko, Russian Vice Prime Minister, went to Harbin to participate in the inaugural ceremony of the 13rd Harbin Commodities Fair.
On June 18, Wu Bangguo, Vice Premier of the State Council, met with Yishayev, Chief Administrator of the Khabarovsk Border Region who was on a visit to China.
From July 15 to 20, Li Lanqing, Vice Premier of the State Council, visited Russia and co-presided over the 3rd meeting of the China-Russian Committee on Education, Cultural, Health and Sports Cooperation. The two sides signed the Minutes of the 3rd Meeting of the China-Russian Committee on Education, Cultural, Health and Sports Cooperation and other documents for cooperation. Vice Premier Li visited Kazan of the Tartarstan Republic and Vladivostok of the Coastal Border Region.
On July 16, President Jiang Zemin and President Putin sent congratulatory messages to each other on the occasion of the first anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Good Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation between China and Russia..
From July 16 to 20, Rushaylo, Secretary of the Russian Security Council, visited China.
From July 22 to 23, Vice Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing went to Russia to hold the second round of consultations of China-Russian anti-terrorist working group.
On August 1, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan had a working breakfast with Russian Foreign Minister Ivanov during his participation in the foreign ministers' meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Brunei. The two sides had an exchange of views on China-Russian relations and international and regional issues of common interest.
On August 19, State Councilor Wu Yi and Russian Vice Prime Minister Khristenko co-presided over the sixth meeting of the Committee on Regular Meetings of Heads of Government between China and Russia in Shanghai, making preparations for the seventh regular meeting of the prime ministers of the two countries.
From August 21 to 23, at the invitation of Premier Zhu Rongji of the State Council, Russian Prime Minister Kasyanov paid an official visit to China. President Jiang Zemin met with him in Beijing. Premier Zhu and Prime Minister Kasyanov held the seventh regular meeting of the two prime ministers in Shanghai. The two sides signed the Joint Communique of the Seventh Regular Meeting of the Heads of Government between China and Russia, the Minutes of the Sixth Meeting of the Committee on Regular Meetings of Heads of Government between China and Russia and other documents for cooperation.
II. Cooperation in the Fields of Economy, Trade, Science and Technology and Trade Relations
2000
March 2-4, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov visited China and explored with State Councilor Wu Yi the possibilities of bilateral cooperation in various specific areas. The two sides signed the Summery of Talks Between State Councilor Wu Yi of the People’s Republic of China and Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov of the Russian Federation. President Jiang Zemin and Premier Zhu Rongji met separately with the Russian Deputy Prime Minister.
March 20-21, the Energy Resources Cooperation Sub-Committee of the Sino-Russian Premiers Regular Meeting Committee held its second meeting in Beijing. Zeng Peiyan, Chinese cochairman of the Sub-Committee and minister in charge of the State Development Planning Commission, and Victor Kalyuzhnyi， Russian cochairman of the Sub-Committee and minister of Fuel and Power, held talks on further strengthening cooperation in the field of energy resources between the two countries and signed a summary of the talks. Vice Premier Wen Jiabao met with the Russian Minister and his party.
March 21-23, the Russian first deputy minister of economy Samokhvalov visited China. The vice minister of foreign trade and economic cooperation Zhang Xiang and Samokhvalov jointly presided in Changchun over the third meeting of the Permanent Working Group of Economic and Trade Cooperation in the Border Areas under the Sino-Russian Economic and Trade Cooperation Sub-Committee, and signed a summary of talks after the meeting.
April 15-20, the Scientific and Technological Cooperation Sub-Committee of the Sino-Russian Premiers Regular Meeting Committee held its fourth meeting in Shanghai. Xu Guanhua, Chinese cochairman of the Sub-Committee and vice minister of science and technology, and Russian cochairman of the Sub-Committee and deputy minister of science and technology, presided over the meeting and signed a protocol.
April 17-22, the vice minister of information industry Qu Weizhi led a delegation to visit Russia and exchanged views with the Russian side on strengthening bilateral cooperation in the electronic and information industry and expanding market in Russia and surrounding areas for the Chinese electronic and information products, etc.
May 23-25, the minister of foreign trade and economic cooperation Shi Guangsheng visited Russia. The Chinese minister and the Russian deputy minister of economic development and trade Mitrofanov jointly presided over the third meeting of the Sino-Russian Economic and Trade Cooperation Sub-Committee and signed the Summary of the Third Meeting of the Sino-Russian Economic and Trade Cooperation Sub-Committee. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov met with Shi Guangsheng and his party.
May 25-26, the Space Cooperation Sub-Committee of the Sino-Russian Premiers Regular Meeting Committee held its first meeting in Beijing. Luan Enjie, Chinese cochairman of the Sub-Committee, vice minister of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense and Director of the State Space Administration, presided over the meeting, and the Russian cochairman of the Sub-Committee and director general of the Russian Aviation and Space Agency Yu. Koptev led the Russian delegation to the meeting. The two sides discussed the cooperation programs for projects of common interest and signed a summary of the meeting.
May 30-31, the Sino-Russian Nuclear Sub-Committee held its fourth meeting in Beijing. Liu Jibin, Chinese cochairman of the Sub-Committee and minister in charge of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, and Adamov, Russian cochairman of the Sub-Committee and minister of atomic energy, led their respective delegations to the meeting and signed a summary of the meeting.
September 11, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation released the Announcement No. (2000) 8, declaring the imposition of anti-dumping tax on part of the Russian cold-rolled silicon steel sheets, thus concluding the eighteen-month-long anti-dumping investigation on the Russian cold-rolled silicon steel sheets by the Chinese departments concerned.
September 27-29, the vice minister of information industry Zhang Chunjiang led a delegation to visit Russia and held talks in Moscow with the Russian deputy minister of communications and information Timofeyev, and the two sides briefed each other on the development of communication and information infra-structures, reform in the telecommunication industry, the prospects of building information society and etc.
October 25-26, the Banking Cooperation Sub-Committee of the Sino-Russian Premiers Regular Meeting Committee held its first meeting in Beijing. As co-chairmen of the Sub-Committee, the deputy governor of the People’s Bank of China Xiao Gang and the deputy governor of the Russian Central Bank Melnikov exchanged views on the current situation, problems and prospects in banking cooperation between the two countries. The meeting approved the rules of the Sub-Committee and the two sides signed a summary of the meeting.
December 5-8, Russian Deputy Communications Minister Grishin visited China to attend in Beijing the fourth meeting of the Railways Working Group under the Transportation Cooperation Sub-Committee of the Sino-Russian Premiers Regular Meeting Committee.
December 6-9, the Russian first deputy minister of communications and information led a delegation to visit China and attended the 2000 Asian Telecommunication Show of the International Telecommunication Union. During the visit, the two sides briefed each other on the progress of work of the Sino-Russian Communication and Information Technology Sub-Committee, which had been formed under the framework of the Premiers Meeting, and signed the protocol of the Sub-Committee.
December 8-9, the fifth meeting of the Transportation Cooperation Sub-Committee of the Sino-Russian Premiers Regular Meeting Committee was held in Beijing. The Sub-Committee cochairman and the Chinese railways minister Fu Zhihuan and the cochairman and the Russian transportation minister Sergei Frank jointly presided over the meeting.
According to the Statistics of the General Administration of Customs of China, the total trade volume between China and Russia in 2000 is US$8.003 billion, increasing by 39.9% over 1999. Of the total volume, Chinese export is US$2.233 billion, increasing by 49.2% over 1999 and Chinese import US$5.77 billion, increasing by 36.6% over 1999.
2001
From February 19 to 21, Gref, Russian Minister of Economic Development and Trade, visited China.
From March 31 to April 9, Sun Yongfu, Chinese Vice Minister of Railways, visited Russia.
From April 3 to 4, the first session of the Forestry Resources Development and Exploitation Permanent Working Group of the Economic and Trade Cooperation Subcommittee of the Committee on Regular Meetings of Heads of Government between China and Russia was held in Moscow.
From April 16 to 21, a delegation headed by Liu Tinghuan, Vice Governor of the People’s Bank of China, attended the first meeting of the China-Russian Financial Cooperation Forum in Moscow.
On June 4, the fourth meeting of the Economic and Trade Cooperation Subcommittee of the Committee on Regular Meetings of Heads of Government between China and Russia was held in Beijing. Zhou Keren, Vice Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, and Kalaskin, Russian Vice Minister of Economic Development and Trade, co-presided over the meeting and signed the minutes of the meeting.
From June 26 to 28, the second meeting of the Banking Cooperation Subcommittee of the Committee on Regular Meetings of Heads of Government between China and Russia was held in Moscow.
From June 28 to 29, the first meeting of the China-Russian Electronic Information Scientific and Technological Cooperation Working Group was held in Beijing.
From July 2 to 3, the fourth meeting of the Border Region Economic and Trade Cooperation Permanent Working Group of the Economic and Trade Cooperation Subcommittee of the Committee on Regular Meetings of Heads of Government between China and Russia was held in Khabarovsk, Russia.
From July 12 to 16, the third meeting of the Energy Cooperation Subcommittee of the Committee on Regular Meetings of Heads of Government between China and Russia was held in Moscow.
From August 14 to 20, Liu Jianfeng, Director of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, visited Russia and toured the fifth Moscow Aeronautics and Space Fair.
From September 16 to 26, Osajina, Russian Vice Minister of Industry, Science and Technology, participated in the fourth APEC Suzhou Technology Fair at the head of a delegation.
From October 11 to 15, the first meeting of the Communications and Information Technology Subcommittee of the Committee on Regular Meetings of Heads of Government between China and Russia was held in Moscow.
From October 12 to 17, a delegation headed by Girpichnikov, Russian First Vice Minister of Industry, Science and Technology, took part in the Shenzhen High and New Technology Exhibition.
From November 12 to 17, Melikov, Vice Chairman of the Central Bank of Russia, led a delegation on a visit to China.
According to the statistics of the General Administration of Customs of China, in 2001 China-Russian trade volume reached U.S.$ 10.67 billion, a record high, up 33.3% than in 2000. Of this total, China’s export and import were respectively U.S.$ 2.71 billion and U.S.$ 7.96 billion, up 21.4% and 37.9%.
January to August 2002
From April 8 to 9, the second meeting of the Communications and Information Technology Subcommittee of the Committee on Regular Meetings of Heads of Government between China and Russia was held in Hangzhou.
On May 22, Shi Guangsheng, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, led the Government Economic and Trade Delegation on a visit to Russia. Shi Guamgsheng and Gref, Russian Minister of Economic Development and Trade, co-presided over the fifth meeting of the Economic and Trade Subcommittee of the Committee on Regular Meetings of Heads of Government between China and Russia.
On May 31, Fu Zhihuan, Chinese Minister of Railways, visited Russia. He and Frank, Russian Minister of Transportation, co-presided over the sixth meeting of the Transportation Cooperation Subcommittee of the Committee on Regular Meetings of Heads of Government between China and Russia.
From July 3 to 5, the sixth routine meeting of the Science and Technology Cooperation Subcommittee of the Committee on Regular Meetings of Heads of Government between China and Russia was held in Harbin.
From July 8 to 13, Xiang Huaicheng, Minister of Finance, visited Russia.
On July 30, the fourth meeting of the Energy Cooperation Subcommittee of the Committee on Regular Meetings of Heads of Government between China and Russia was held in Beijing.
On August 12, the third meeting of the Aerospace Cooperation Subcommittee of the Committee on Regular Meetings of Heads of Government between China and Russia was held in Beijing.
III. Cultural and other Exchanges
2000
February 15, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Sino-Russian Friendship Association hosted a cocktail party to commemorate the centenary of the birth of Alexey Rogachev, the famed Russian Sinologist and translator.
May 10, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Sino-Russian Friendship Association held a big meeting in commemoration of the 55th anniversary of the Great National Defense War of the Soviet People. The vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Wu Jieping and other leaders attended the meeting.
Important exchanges of art groups:
China sent a 55-member group of the China Opera and Dance Drama Theatre on a performance tour of Russia.
Russia sent the following art groups on performance tours of China: an 85-member troupe of the Moscow Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko Music Theatre in January; the 85-member Moiseyev Dance Troupe in January; a 300-member troupe of the Malinsky Theatre in April; the 82-member Red Army Song and Dance Ensemble in May; the 80-member Kemerovo Symphony Orchestra in October; and the 80-member Moscow National Symphony Orchestra in December.
August 1-10, the vice president of the Chinese Writers Association Zhang Qie led a writers’ delegation on a Russian visit.
October 16-21, at the invitation of the Chinese Education Ministry, the delegation of the Russian university presidents headed by Academician Sadovnichii, president of Moscow University, paid a visit to China. Education Minister Chen Zhili met with the delegation and the two sides exchanged views on educational cooperation between the two countries.
October 18-23, China and Russia held in Beijing the 6th meeting of the Sino-Russian planning committee to guide and work out comprehensive plans on the exploitation of water resources of the portions of the Eerguna River and the Heilongjiang River, which form the boundary river between the two countries. The Chinese cochairman of the planning committee and vice minister of water resources Zhou Wenzhi and the Russian cochairman and first deputy minister of natural resources of Russia Mikheyev attended the meeting, and the two sides reviewed and approved the summary report on the plan of the comprehensive exploitation of the water resources in the portions of the Eerguna River and the Heilongjiang River, which form the boundary, marking the conclusion of the fourteen-year-long planning work and the fulfillment of the committee’s task.
November 30-December 6, at the invitation of Dai Xianglong, governor of the People’s Bank of China, the Russian Central Bank Delegation headed by the governor of the Bank Gerashchenko paid a visit to China and the two sides briefed each other on the latest macro-economic and financial situation in their respective countries.
December 1-7, the vice president of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles Zhao Zhihong led an art group to participate in the first Art Contest in Russia.
2001
On February 20, the first meeting of the Health Cooperation Subcommittee of the China-Russian Committee on Education, Cultural, Health and Sports Cooperation was held in Beijing.
From May 11 to 14, Yu Zaiqing, Deputy Director of the State Physical Culture Administration, Chinese Chairman of the Sports Cooperation Subcommittee of the China-Russian Committee on Education, Cultural, Health and Sports Cooperation, and Hotochgin, Vice Chairman of the Russian State Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism Commission, co-presided over the first meeting of the Sports Cooperation Subcommittee in Moscow.
On May 17, the first meeting of the Education Cooperation Subcommittee of the China-Russian Committee on Education, Cultural, Health and Sports Cooperation was held in Beijing.
From May 18 to 20, the Exhibition on Russian Higher Education and China-Russian Higher Learning Institution Cooperation and Exchanges Conference were held in Beijing University.
From May 28 to June 1, Pan Zhenzhou, Vice Minister of Culture, visited Russia at the invitation of the Russian Ministry of Culture.
From June 4 to 11, Zheng Xinmiao, Deputy Director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, visited Russia.
From July 11 to 12, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries presented two big song and dance soirees entitled “China-Russian Friendship Night” in Moscow in support of Beijing’s bid for the hosting of the 2008 Olympic Games.
From July 18 to 20, Shvydkoy, Russian Minister of Culture, visited China. Meng Xiaosi, Vice Minister of Culture, and Shvydkoy co-presided over the first meeting of the Culture Cooperation Subcommittee of the China-Russian Committee on Education, Cultural, Health and Sports Cooperation.
On August 24, the Russian Contemporary Classic Oils Exhibition was inaugurated in China National Gallery.
On September 25, a photo exhibition entitled “The Splendid China” co-sponsored by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Russian side was inaugurated in the Museum of the Ostrovsky Humanities and Arts Center in Moscow. The exhibition lasted two weeks and was visited by 3000 spectators.
On November 9, the second meeting of the Sports Cooperation Subcommittee of the China-Russian Committee on Education, Cultural, Health and Sports Cooperation was held in Guangtzhou.
Exchanges of visits by other important cultural missions and groups in 2001: China Song and Dance Ensemble (May), Xinjiang Song and Dance Ensemble (May), China Writers’ Delegation (June), Mei Lanfang Beijing Opera Troupe of Beijing (June), China Calligraphy and Paintings Exhibition (July), Cultural Delegation of Jiangsu Province (September), Jiangnan Shaolin Kung Fu Performing Delegation (October), China Military Writers’ Delegation (October), Big National Song and Dance Drama “The Border Town” Performing Troupe of Hunan Song and Dance Theater (October), Russian Bolshoi Dance Troupe (January), Kremlin Ballet (April), the Red Army Song and Dance Ensemble of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (May), the Opera and Ballet Theatre of Norobrisk (June), Moscow Classic Ballet (September), the Exhibition of 300 Years of Russian Paintings (September), St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra (November).
At the end of 2001, there were 484 government-sponsored Chinese students in Russia and 122 government-sponsored Russian students in China.
January to August 2002
On January 21, the first session of the Tourism Working Group of the China-Russian Committee on Education, Cultural, Health and Sports Cooperation was held in Shanghai.
On May 22, Meng Xiaosi, Chinese Vice Minister of Culture, visited Russia and, with Shvydkoy, Russian Minister of Culture, co-presided over the second meeting of the Cultural Cooperation Subcommittee of the China-Russian Committee on Education, Cultural, Health and Sports Cooperation.
On May 23, Zhang Xinsheng, Vice Minister of Education, visited Russia and, with Filippov, Russian Minister of Education, co-presided over the second session of the Education Cooperation Subcommittee of the China-Russian Committee on Education, Cultural, Health and Sports Cooperation.
On June 4, Zhu Qingsheng, Vice Minister of Public Health, visited Russia and, with Stukolova, Russian Vice Minister of Health, co-presided over the second session of the Health Cooperation Subcommittee of the China-Russian Committee on Education, Cultural, Health and Sports Cooperation.
IV. On the Boundary Question
The total length of the Sino-Russian boundary line is about 4,370 kilometers, of which the eastern section is about 4,320 kilometers and the western section about 54 kilometers. There exists the boundary question between the two countries left over from history. Based on the treaties concerning the present boundary between the two countries, in accordance with the recognized norms of international law and in the spirit of equal consultation and mutual understanding and accommodation, the two sides, after years of negotiations, have delimited 97% of the alignment of the boundary line and signed the Agreement on the Eastern Section of the Boundary Between China and Russia and the Agreement on the Western Section of the Boundary Between China and Russia on May 16, 1991 and September 3, 1994 respectively. On December 9, 1999 China and Russia signed the Protocol on Delineation of the Eastern Section of the Boundary Line Between China and Russia and the Protocol on Delineation of the Western Section of the Boundary Line Between China and Russia. The signing of the above-mentioned documents and the successful conclusion of the boundary demarcation work marks the formal confirmation in legal form of the sections of the boundary that have been agreed upon by China and Russia through consultation, and for the first time in the history of relations between the two countries the agreed-upon boundary line has been accurately staked of on the spot.
At present, the alignment of the boundary line in the areas of the Heixiazi Island and the Abagaitu Islet in the eastern section of the Sino-Russian boundary has not yet been delimited and the two sides are continuing negotiation for settlement.
V. Important Documents in 2000
Beijing Declaration of the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation （July 18, 2000）
Joint Statement of the President of the People’s Republic of China and the President of the Russian Federation on the Issue of Anti Ballistic Missiles (July 18, 2000)
source:www.fmprc.gov.cn
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