Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) meets with visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Moscow, Sept. 24, 2004.

    Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (C) shakes hands with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov (R) after they signed documents including a joint communique on the ninth regular meeting between heads of governments of the two countries in Moscow, Russia, Sept. 24, 2004.

    MOSCOW, Sept. 24 (Xinhuanet) -- Russia and China will boost cooperation in the fields of politics, economy and trade, and science and technology, according to a joint communique issued here Friday.

    According to the communique, which was signed at the ninth regular meeting of Chinese and Russian prime ministers, the two countries are satisfied with their economic and trade cooperation since the eighth regular meeting.

    The document was signed by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov and visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.

    In the first eight months of this year, the communique noted, bilateral trade reached 12.87 billion US dollars, a 35.4 percent increase as compared with that of the same period last year. Two-way trade this year is expected to hit 20 billion US dollars.

    In the communique, China reiterated its strong support for Russia's bid to join the World Trade Organization (WTO). Both Russia and China recognize each other's full market economy status.

    In order to maintain a sustainable development of bilateral trade, the two countries agree to draw a plan to promote and strengthen their comprehensive cooperation, so that two-way trade volume can reach and surpass 60 billion dollars in 2010.

    Both Russia and China express their willingness to promote investment cooperation. China will invest more in Russia's resources and energy development, infrastructure, and manufacturing. Russia will facilitate Chinese investment in these fields, said the communique.

    The two countries will take measures to implement the cooperative projects in oil and natural gas, including the construction of pipelines between China and Russia.

    The communique also pointed out that the two sides will strengthen cooperation in building nuclear plants, space, new materials, information and telecommunications.

    During the ninth regular meeting between the two prime ministers, the two countries also signed seven agreements on education, economy and trade, finance and insurance, the communique added.

    The communique also highlighted the importance of the upcoming meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao, in October during Putin's visit to China, saying it will play a significant role in advancing bilateral ties.

    Wen arrived here Thursday on a three-day official visit.

    Before his Russia trip, Wen paid a visit to Kyrgyzstan, where he attended the third meeting of prime ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states. Enditem