On February 27, 2003, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan held talks with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, during which they exchanged views on bilateral relations and international issues of mutual concern.

On bilateral relations, Tang said that building on the success of China-Russia relations in the past decade, top leaders of the two countries mapped out a general plan on further developing and deepening bilateral strategic partnership of coordination. He noted that the new collective leadership of China attaches great importance to China-Russia relations, adding that what is imperative right now is to actively implement the cooperation agreements reached by the leaders of the two countries, observe the letter and spirit of the China-Russia Good-neighborly and Friendly Treaty of Cooperation and to intensify cooperation and coordination in such fields as politics, economy and trade, and international affairs.

Ivanov said that the Russian side is very pleased by China’s insistence on developing bilateral ties in accordance with the spirits of the above-mentioned Treaty and China’s continuity in its Russian policy, which will serve as a solid foundation for the further development of the strategic partnership of coordination. He noted that the two countries hold the same view in this regard.

The two foreign ministers also discussed and reached consensus on the exchange of high-level visits between the two countries for this year.

They also exchanged views on bilateral cooperation in economy, trade, energy, anti-terrorism and Shanghai Cooperation Organization as well as consultations between the two foreign ministries.

On the Iraqi issue, Tang emphasized that Iraq should cooperate fully with the UN in a more active manner and with no strings attached and completely destroy its weapons of mass destruction; a political solution to the Iraqi issue within the framework of the UN should still be sought; no efforts should be spared to avoid war; what is imperative is not a new UN resolution, but to let the arms inspection continue.

On the DPRK nuclear issue, Tang reiterated China’s principled stance, pointing out that as the parties concerned, the DPRK and the US should take into consideration the concerns of the other party. Noting that the DPRK and the US do not trust each other at the present stage, Tang said that the most effective way out of the crisis is dialogue between the DPRK and the US and China stands ready to continue to play an active role on this issue.

Ivanov briefed Tang on Russia’s positions on the Iraqi and the DPRK nuclear issues and the work it has done. The two foreign ministers agreed to keep consultations and cooperation on the above two issues.