03 December 2002 00:00
JOINT DECLARATION BY THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (BEIJING, CHINA, DECEMBER 2, 2002)
The Heads of State of Russia and China, having comprehensively discussed the state of, and prospects for Russian-Chinese ties, declare that deepening of the relations of strategic partnership between the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China is the only correct historic choice arising from the long-term interests of the two countries and their peoples and meeting the requirements for coping with challenges to the development of the world situation and international relations.
Over the last decade, bilateral relations have witnessed positive historic changes. In the new 21st century the sociopolitical and economic bases of Russian-Chinese relations have become ever firmer, mutual political trust has deepened, the traditional friendship between the two countries' peoples has grown stronger and mutually beneficial cooperation has produced substantial results. The close contacts between leaders of the two states play a guiding role for the development of bilateral relations.
The Heads of State of Russia and China concur that development of relations of good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation and the deepening of strategic interaction between Russia and China have extensive prospects and huge potential. The sides are determined to go on making untiring efforts to continually push forward and raise the level of friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.
The Heads of State of Russia and China affirm their readiness to strengthen further the exchange of high-level visits and the regular meeting mechanism between the two countries, to raise the level of mutual trust in the political and military fields and to exchange views continuously on major bilateral and international issues. The foreign affairs, defense, law enforcement, economic and scientific-technical agencies of the two countries will all heighten their coordination and cooperation. Friendly exchanges and businesslike cooperation between regions of the countries will be strengthened.
II
The year that has elapsed since the signing by the Heads of State of Russia and China of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation Between the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China, of July 16, 2001, has entirely confirmed that this document has a historic and important practical significance and is a solid foundation for the healthy and stable development of good-neighborly and friendly relations between the two states. The Treaty is a program document possessing an enormous life-affirming force, aimed at ensuring the continuous deepening of bilateral relations, which opens up new horizons for the building-up of the strategic partnership between the two countries in all the directions without exception.
The Heads of State of Russia and China reiterate that no matter what changes take place in the international situation or in Russia and China, they are determined to adhere unswervingly to the course and principles set forth in the Treaty, continue to promote, expand, deepen and fill the relations of strategic partnership between the two countries with new content, coordinate the positions and support each other on issues of common concern, fully implement the great strategic idea that the two countries will "forever be good neighbors, friends and reliable partners and never be enemies," and meet the challenges of our time together with all peace-loving states and peoples all over the world.
The sides emphasize that the friendly relations of the two countries are a new type of state-to-state relations based on non-alignment and non-confrontation and which are not directed against third countries. The Heads of State of Russia and China are deeply convinced that the solid foundation laid by the Treaty will definitely elevate Russian-Chinese relations to a new, still higher level in this century.
The Heads of State of Russia and China point out that national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity are the basic elements of international law, the underlying principles governing international relations, and the essential preconditions for each state's existence. It is the lawful right of every state to firmly condemn and strike against any designs or actions seeking to undermine the above-mentioned principles. Russia and China resolutely support each other's policy and actions in questions of maintaining state unity and territorial integrity.
The Russian side reiterates that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and that Taiwan is an integral part of China's territory. Russia will not establish any official relations or have any official contacts with Taiwan. Russia has always recognized that Tibet is an integral part of China. The Chinese side supports the efforts of the Russian side in fighting Chechen terrorists and separatists.
Russia and China will not allow the establishment or activities of any organization or group within their own territories that would inflict harm upon the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of the two states.
The heads of the two states believe that the most favorable conditions have currently taken shape in order to reach a mutually acceptable solution to the question where the line of the Russian-Chinese state boundary is to run on its two remaining unagreed sections. In this connection the ministries of foreign affairs of the two countries are instructed to complete the process of border negotiations as soon as possible.
The definitive settlement of the historically inherited border question between Russia and China will have a historic significance for relations between the two countries for the strategic term and will exert an important stabilizing effect on the situation in the Asia-Pacific region and globally.
III
The Heads of State of Russia and China presume that strengthening and developing in every way the positive trends in trade and economic cooperation is of great importance to ensuring stable long-term progress in the whole range of Russian-Chinese relations.
The Heads of State of Russia and China believe that the mechanism of regular meetings between the Heads of Government of the two states has a great significance and highly assess its contribution to developing trade and economic cooperation between Russia and China over the long term.
The sides point out that for the purpose of ensuring the stable and predictable development of trade and economic relations active measures need to be taken to expand the scope of trade, improve its commodity pattern by increasing in it the proportion of high-technology, engineering and electronic products, along with other high value added products, to create favorable conditions for mutual access for goods, services and investments to the markets of the two states, to intensify technical, economic and investment cooperation, including the establishment of joint ventures, industrial partnerships, and technology transfer, to improve the system of handling trade transactions, including heightened cooperation in the area of banking settlements, crediting and insurance, to strengthen work in the legal, administrative, managerial and other fields so as to bring their trade regulations into conformity with international norms, and to enhance contacts between small and medium-sized businesses. The sides are determined to achieve a breakthrough in the development and qualitative growth of the whole range of bilateral trade and economic relations.
Taking into account the great significance of cooperation in the energy sphere for both sides, the Heads of State of Russia and China consider it important to ensure the prompt implementation of the existing agreements concerning the Russian-Chinese oil pipeline and gas pipelines as well as to coordinate the implementation of promising energy projects to ensure the long-term and stable nature of oil and gas supplies.
The sides agree that in the context of Russia's integration into the system of world economic ties as an equal member of the world economic and trade community its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) will be of special significance, and acknowledge that it is necessary to actively and constructively hold bilateral negotiations on the accession of Russia to the WTO and achieve an appropriate agreement on the basis of consideration of mutual interests, which will help to strengthen Russian-Chinese trade and economic relations. China declares its support for entry of the Russian Federation into the WTO, which will impart to this international organization a more universal character.
IV
The Heads of State of Russia and China presume that expanding friendly contacts and cooperation between the sides in the fields of education, culture, health, sports and media is instrumental in consolidating the social foundation of good-neighborliness, friendship and mutual trust between the two states. They attach great significance to the activities of the Russian-Chinese Committee of Friendship, Peace and Development and the improvement of its forms and methods of work.
In order to promote mutual understanding and cooperation between the peoples of the two countries, the sides intend to continue to take practical measures to stimulate mutual trips of citizens of Russia and China, including the steps to regularize and perfect the juridical basis of such contacts.
The Heads of State of Russia and China underscore the importance of developing cooperation in the field of law enforcement. The sides intend to expand cooperation in fighting against illegal migration.
The Heads of State of Russia and China note the necessity of taking further action to strengthen cooperation and improve the appropriate legal basis in the field of ecology and the protection of environment, paying attention to environmental cooperation in the border areas.
V
The criminal attacks of international terrorism in New York, Moscow, Bali and other areas of the world show that terrorism, separatism and extremism pose a serious threat to the security of sovereign states, as well as to world peace and stability. Factors causing uncertainty in global security have increased. The Heads of State of Russia and China maintain that there may be no double standards in addressing these problems, and that it is necessary to counter terrorism by the joint efforts of all states. Russia and China are determined to take purposeful and necessary practical steps, on a bilateral and multilateral basis, in the tough fight against terrorism in all its manifestations.
The sides reaffirm that the terrorists and separatists of Chechnya and "East Turkestan" are part and parcel of international terrorism. They must be condemned and made an object of joint struggle by all states of the world. For the purpose of the effective protection of the security and stability of their states and the promotion of peace and prosperity on the regional and even global levels, the sides will increase mutual support in the field of combating terrorism and intensify coordination and international cooperation in this area.
In June 2002, in St. Petersburg, the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) signed an agreement setting up a permanent SCO Regional Antiterrorist Structure. The Heads of State of Russia and China highly evaluate the potential for antiterrorist cooperation of this organization and want it to start its practical work as soon as possible.
The sides also highly appreciate the activities of the Russian-Chinese Working Group on fighting terrorism, and especially stress that the constructive and confidential dialogue that has developed therein is fully in accord with the level of relations of strategic partnership existing between Russia and China.
VI
Since the events of September 11, 2001, the international situation has undergone deep and complex changes. International terrorism and other nontraditional challenges pose a serious threat to international peace and security. Local conflicts have not been extinguished, there persist the hotbeds of tension and instability and the gap between South and North has widened even more. Peace and the development of mankind are faced with challenges that cannot be ignored.
The Heads of State of Russia and China believe that the harmonious coexistence of all countries of the world and its diversity, the democratization of international relations will help to strengthen global stability and security. The sides hold that peace and development are the keynote of the contemporary epoch, that in the conditions of the strengthening of the key tendencies for the formation of a multipolar world and economic globalization the peoples of all countries are interested in shaping an equitable and rational new international political and economic order which would guarantee the ongoing development and equal security of all states.
Russia and China favor strengthening the central role of the United Nations as the principal mechanism for safeguarding international security and cooperation in a multipolar world, and advocate the further enhancement of the efficiency of the UN and, in particular, its Security Council.
The two sides believe that at a time of globalization and scientific and technical progress, countries are becoming increasingly more inter-dependent. It is necessary to formulate an overall strategy for sustainable development of the mankind. The military, political, economic, ecological and human contents related to international security are inter-linked and such a concept should form the basis of the overall strategy mentioned above.
The Heads of State of Russia and China believe the two sides' coordination on strategic stability issues is of great significance to fortifying international security and global and local stability. The two sides will cooperate within the framework of bilateral relations and related international forums, promote the formulation and adoption of effective measures in arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their carriers. The two sides will make further efforts to advance their joint proposal on the conclusion of an international agreement on the prevention of deployment of weapons in outer space.
The two sides will continue their close coordination in resolving the issue of missile proliferation. They hold that it is necessary to further explore and advance the proposal for multilateral talks so as to formulate a legally binding agreement on global missile non-proliferation mechanism. The United Nations and other multilateral organizations should play a major role in this area. Russia and China are ready to continue bilateral dialogue on export control related to non-proliferation.
The two sides attach great importance to interstate cooperation on protection and promotion of human rights. They believe that there should be no "double standards" in this area, and stand against the use of human rights problems for imposing pressures in international relations.
The two sides stress it should become a norm of interstate relations to resolve regional conflicts by political and diplomatic means and through dialogues and negotiations.
The two sides maintain that the Iraq issue should be thoroughly resolved through political and diplomatic means on the basis of strictly observing resolutions of the UN Security Council. They are willing to further cooperate within the UN framework on this issue.
The two sides have a discussion on the Middle East situation and express grave concern over the prolonged Palestine-Israel confrontation. They believe that the use of force can never resolve their differences and a political solution conforms to the long-term interests of all nations. The goal of the political solution is the peaceful co-existence of Israel and Palestine as two countries within their safe and recognized boundaries.
VII
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has become an important factor in maintaining regional peace, security and stability, as well as a pillar in the future structure of a multipolar world. In the current complicated international situation, it is in the common interests of SCO member countries to inject new vigor into the organization so that it can take a more active part in regional and international affairs for the promotion of peace and prosperity in Asia and the creation of cooperative atmosphere for dialogues on an equal footing.
The Heads of State of Russia and China, therefore, maintain that it is of primary importance to strengthen cooperation within the framework of the SCO.
Russia and China are willing to work with the other member countries of the SCO to speed up the improvement of the SCO mechanism, set up the SCO Secretariat and Regional anti-terrorism structure at an early date, intensify the fight against terrorism, separatism and extremism and take measures to curb drug trafficking and other forms of cross-border crime, deepen the extensive cooperation of the sides in economic and cultural fields, and actively carry out exchanges and cooperation between the SCO and other international organizations and countries to safeguard peace and development of the region and the world as a whole.
VIII
The Heads of State of Russia and China hold that to strengthen multilateral cooperation in the field of security in the Asian-Pacific region is one of the key factors in consolidating global strategic stability. The two countries will strive to establish in the Asian-Pacific region an effective regional multilateral cooperation system to ensure stability and security in the region.
The Heads of State of Russia and China express concern over the prospects and possible results of cooperation between interested countries in establishing a theater missile defense system in East Asia on a bloc basis, and reiterate that such cooperation should not destroy regional and global security and stability. Both sides urge all interested countries to strengthen dialogue on the issue of theater missile defense systems in East Asia on a bloc basis. Russia and China will continue consultations on the issue within the bilateral framework.
The two sides have discussed Central Asian situation. They point out that it is crucial to maintain stability and security in the region.
Both sides point out that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plays a constructive role in establishing a new type of interstate relations in the Asia-Pacific region, and hold that the ASEAN Regional Forum is an effective mechanism for conducting political dialogue on regional security issues. Both sides reiterate that they will carry out close cooperation within the framework of the ASEAN Regional Forum.
Russia reiterates its positive attitude toward the further development of "ASEAN + 3" dialogue and cooperation mechanism. China will provide necessary assistance to Russia for the establishment of contacts between Russia and the mechanism in the fields of common concern.
Both sides hold that comprehensively advancing economic, trade, investment and technological cooperation within the framework of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a major contribution to the stability and development in the Asia-Pacific region. Both sides are willing to conduct regular consultations on APEC affairs to exchange views and coordinate their positions.
Both sides speak highly of the Asia-Europe Meeting's contributions to pushing forward the further development of a new equal partnership between Asia and Europe. The Chinese side supports Russia's entry into the Meeting.
The Heads of State of Russia and China welcome the establishment of a nuclear-free area in related regions in Asia, and hold that such a nuclear-free area should fully take into consideration the interests and concerns of all countries.
The Heads of State of Russia and China support the continuation and advancement of the relaxation process in recent years on the Korean Peninsula, especially the dialogue and cooperation between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK), and are for the normalization of relations between the DPRK and Japan and the implementation of the results achieved at the Pyongyang summit.
Both sides hold that it is crucial to peace and security in North-East Asia to maintain a nuclear-free status of the Korean Peninsula and the system for non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Both sides emphasize that the United States and the DPRK should, as always, abide by all agreements reached before including the 1994 framework agreement, and realize, on this basis, the normalization of their relations in the principle of conducting constructive and equal dialogue for catering to mutual concerns. Both sides will continue to develop good-neighborly friendship and cooperation with the DPRK and the ROK so as to facilitate peace and prosperity in the region.
Both sides completely support the work done by the Afghan Interim Authority to bring the country's situation back to normal in line with the Agreement on Provisional Arrangements in Afghanistan Pending the Re-Establishment of Permanent Government Institutions signed in Bonn, the Loya Jirgah's (Grand Assembly) decisions and resolutions adopted by the United Nations Security Council. Both sides express the concern over the instability of the Afghan situation, the rampant activities of the residual Taliban forces, the intensifying contradictions among different ethnic groups and the increasing output of drugs. Both sides stress that the UN's leading role in solving Afghan issues must be upheld.
The Heads of State of Russia and China declare that they are willing to continue to conduct intensive and mutually-trusted political dialogue, expand and deepen economic cooperation of mutual benefit, boost cooperation in international affairs, and consolidate the friendship between the peoples of the two countries.
President of the Russian Federation
Chairman of the People's Republic of China
Beijing, December 2, 2002
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© Publication of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
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