BEIJING, March 20 (Xinhuanet) -- China says there are no major problems and obstacles between China and Russia after the two countries settled their border disputes last year following four decades of negotiations.

    "The two countries set up high-level meeting mechanism and solved the border issue successfully. There are no major problems and obstacles in their bilateral relations," said Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.

    Li made the remarks in a written interview with the Russian media, which was posted on the ministry's official website on Monday.

    "China-Russia relations have developed rapidly and the two countries have increased their mutual understanding," said Li.

    On the events of the Year of Russia scheduled for 2006 and the Year of China for 2007, Li said the "National Year" event is the first of its kind in the history of China-Russia relations and is the major step toward implementing their treaty of neighborly friendship.

    Chinese and Russian presidents will jointly attend the opening ceremony of the Year of Russia during Russian President Vladimir Putin's upcoming state visit to China from March 21 to 22.

    Li hailed China-Russia trade cooperation, saying the bilateral trade volume hit 29.1 billion U.S. dollars in 2005, up 37.1 percent year on year. The good momentum is expected to lay a solidfoundation to meet the goal 60 to 80 billion dollars in trade by 2010.

    In response to a question on bilateral military cooperation, Lisaid China and Russia, share a 4,300-km-long border and will develop long-term and stable neighborly friendship and mutually-beneficial cooperation.

    Both China and Russia follow the principle of non-alignment, non-antagonism and not targeting a third country, which benefit peace, security and stability in the region and the world at large,Li said. Enditem