Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing (R) shakes hands with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov as they meet at the ministry of foreign affairs in Beijing, China, May 16, 2006. (Xinhua Photo)

    BEIJING, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and his Russian counterpart Sergei Viktorovich Lavrov held talks in Beijing on Tuesday, vowing to keep close contact and cooperation in key fields.

    During the talks, the two foreign ministers spoke highly of the sound development of China-Russia relations and expressed their satisfaction with the successful activities of the "Year of Russia" in China.

    The two foreign ministries pledged to jointly implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries on deepening China-Russia strategic partnership of cooperation and major international and regional issues.

    They also vowed to work together to ensure the success of a series of visits and contacts between the leaders of the two countries this year.

    They noted that the two countries are ready to complete demarcating borders between the two countries before the end of next year and encourage and standardize personnel and trade exchanges.

    The two ministers also exchanged views on international and regional situation and the development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a six-member regional cooperation organization.

    The SCO, comprising China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, was founded in Shanghai on June 15, 2001.

    The two foreign ministers reiterated that they will keep continuous consultations and cooperation in resolving the Iranian nuclear issue in a peaceful way through negotiations and jointly promote the progress of the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue.

    After the talks, Li and Lavrov signed an agreement on establishing a joint working group for immigration issues and another agreement on building a new bridge at the site of the present bridge over the border river of Ergune River. Enditem