Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=12/02/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=CHINA PUTIN - S

NUMBER=2-296993

BYLINE=JIM RANDLE

DATELINE=BEIJING

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: China and Russia are calling on North Korea and the United States to stick to an agreement requiring Pyongyang to end its nuclear weapons program. The presidents of Russia and China also urge Washington and Pyongyang to improve their relationship. V-O-A's Jim Randle reports.

TEXT: After their meeting in Beijing, Russian President Vladimir Putin and China's President Jiang Zemin called for the Korean Peninsula to be free of nuclear weapons.

They also urged Washington and Pyongyang to reduce the tensions that erupted in October when North Korea said it is working to build nuclear weapons, a violation of international agreements.

The 1994 Agreed Framework accord promised North Korea foreign energy aid in exchange for giving up efforts to develop nuclear bombs.

Monday's summit between Mr. Jiang and Mr. Putin comes at the start of the Russian president's two-day visit to Beijing. The visit is designed to strengthen ties between Moscow and Beijing.

Mr. Putin told reporters that relations between the two neighbors have reached a "very high level" and he hopes cooperation will continue.

He is scheduled to give a speech at Peking University before leaving on Tuesday. (Signed).

NEB/HK/JR/KPD