Wu meets Russian leaders
By Shao Zongwei (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-05-25 00:41

China's top law-maker Wu Bangguo Monday pledged to work together with the Russian parliament to promote bilateral relations.

Wu spoke to the press after meeting with Sergey M. Mironov, chairman of the Council of Federation of the Russian Federal Assembly, the Russian upper house of parliament.

He also held separate talks with State Duma Chairman Boris Gryzlov later in the day.

Highlighting the role of parliamentary exchanges to promote bilateral relations, Wu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said close links to different regions and the public, parliament and congress can further promote trust among people of different countries and push for the implementation of agreements already signed.

As a footnote to this, Wu and Mironov will attend a forum today on Sino-Russian regional co-operation.

Initiated by Mironov last August, the forum is expected to attract businessmen from the border regions of the two countries and officials from both the central and local levels of government.

"The two countries need to improve their trade make-up, because we have not only rich resources but very advanced technology as well," said Mironov.

He also told the press that Russia and China should provide a better legal basis for bilateral technological partnerships.

Labour-intensive products with low added value, such as food and garments, are China's major export items to Russia, while Russia's primary products, including timber and energy resources are in need in China.

Leaders from both countries have expressed the wish for enhanced technological co-operation to upgrade bilateral trade on various occasions.

According to Mironov, his meeting with Wu also touched upon the issue of strengthening law-enforcement co-operation, and how law-makers in the two countries can promote bilateral trade and economic ties.

Wu suggested plans should be made to ensure regular annual co-operation between the Council of Federation and the NPC.

Wu's tour, which also includes Khabarovsk, Irkutsk and St. Petersburg, kicked off this year's exchange of high-level visits between China and Russia.

China's ties with Russia have entered into a period of steady development since the early 1990s.

With the Treaty of Good Neighborliness and Friendly Co-operation signed in July 2001, China and Russia have added new momentum to their strategic partnership.

The bilateral relationship between China and Russia is at its best now, said Wu, adding that he and his hosts have reached a consensus on bilateral and multilateral issues.

Developing a strategic partnership of co-operation with China is one of priorities of Russia's foreign policy, said Gryzlov.

He said developing parliamentary ties is a part of such a relationship.

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