Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) holds a ceremony to welcome his Russian counterpart Mikhail Fradkov before their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Nov. 3, 2005. (Xinhua photo)

BEIJING, Nov. 3, 2005 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese and Russian prime ministers drew up a blueprint of goals for future bilateral cooperation Thursday, highlighting the results already achieved.

    Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and visiting Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Yefimovich Fradkov held the 10th regular prime ministers' meeting amidst Fradkov's on-going China visit.

    Wen described the bilateral ties as in "the best development period in history."

    "The formation of the Sino-Russian strategic and cooperative partnership and the signing of the Good-neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation demonstrate the aspiration of the two sides to hold bilateral ties with strategic and long-term viewpoints," he said.

    He particularly mentioned the lay-out for implementing the Sino-Russian Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation,approved by the heads of state of the two countries last year.

    The document planned the direction for future development of bilateral ties, he stressed, adding that the two governments were satisfied with the implementation of the lay-out.

    The expansion of economic cooperation was high on the agenda of the meeting. According to Wen, the two sides have already inked 79 agreements. Dual-track trade soared from 5.46 billion US dollars in the first regular meeting to 21.2 billion US dollars last year."The figure is expected to hit 28 billion dollars this year," Wen said.

    

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) shakes hands with his Russian counterpart Mikhail Fradkov at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Nov. 3, 2005. (Xinhua photo)

To boost the cooperation, Wen proposed improving commodity structure and regular trade order; signing the agreement for the construction of the oil pipeline at an early date while enhancing power and nuclear power cooperation; signing a pact to protect and expand mutual investment; strengthening exchanges of scientific personnel and the transfer of scientific results; supporting cooperation along border regions; advancing educational, cultural,health, sports and tourist communication between the two countries;and holding China Year in Russia and Russia Year in China.

    Fradkov also commended the "important role" played by the regular prime ministers' meeting. Through the joint military exercise and the approval of the complementary agreement on the demarcation of borders in the eastern section, Fradkov said, the two countries enhanced mutual trust and showed the aspiration of coping with new challenges and threats, protecting fundamental interests and territorial integrity and establishing a just and rational international order.

    "Tasks ahead are still heavy," he said. He called on the two sides to enhance cooperation on major issues and major projects, particularly in the fields of investment, energy, space, science and technology and telecom.

    The two prime ministers reiterated that they would have good neighborliness and political trust.

    In an efficient and pragmatic attitude, the two sides agreed to well handle the demarcation work in the remaining section along the eastern border in an effort to build up a friendly nexus for the two peoples along the border areas.

    The two prime ministers also voiced support to relevant departments of respective countries on signing a pact for the construction of the oil pipeline and promptly implementing the decision for oil and natural gas exploitation and development.

    China and Russia have issued a joint statement on international order in the 21st century. The two prime ministers stressed the statement is of great significance for pushing forward multi-polarization and promoting democratization in international relations and in the formation of a just and rational international order.

    After the meeting, the two countries signed cooperation documents on language teaching, economic and trade cooperation andbanking.

    This is Fradkov's first China trip since he assumed the premiership. He is scheduled to meet other Chinese leaders Friday.Enditem