DATE=12/27/96
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-207975
TITLE=RUSSIA/CHINA (S)
BYLINE=ELIZABETH ARROTT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN EXPECTS TO HOST HIS
CHINESE COUNTERPART, JIANG ZEMIN, AT A SUMMIT NEXT APRIL.
V-O-A'S ELIZABETH ARROTT IN MOSCOW REPORTS THE ANTICIPATED
MEETING UNDERSCORES RUSSIAN EFFORTS AT FORMING A STRATEGIC
RELATIONSHIP WITH ITS EASTERN NEIGHBOR.
TEXT: A KREMLIN SPOKESMAN SAID DETAILS OF THE APRIL SUMMIT WERE
WORKED OUT BETWEEN MR. YELTSIN AND CHINESE PREMIER LI PENG,
CURRENTLY ON A THREE-DAY VISIT TO MOSCOW.
BOTH SIDES ARE EAGER TO STRENGTHEN TIES, SUNDERED DURING SOVIET
TIMES WHEN THE TWO COUNTRIES VIED FOR LEADERSHIP OF THE COMMUNIST
WORLD. NOW, WITH THE THREAT OF THE NATO MILITARY ALLIANCE
ENCROACHING ON RUSSIAN BORDERS, A MOSCOW-BEIJING ALLIANCE IS
VIEWED BY MANY IN RUSSIA AS A USEFUL COUNTERBALANCE TO WESTERN
PRESSURE.
BUT APPARENTLY TOPPING THE AGENDA DURING THE MEETING FRIDAY WERE
ECONOMIC LINKS. CHINA HAS PROPOSED A SPECIAL TRADE ZONE WITH
RUSSIA. RUSSIA HOPES CHINA WILL CONTINUE TO BUY RUSSIAN MILITARY
HARDWARE AND NUCLEAR ENERGY TECHNOLOGY.
AFTER MEETING WITH MR. LI AT THE KREMLIN, PRESIDENT YELTSIN SAID
HE IS VERY MUCH SATISFIED WITH THE CURRENT STATE OF
CHINESE-RUSSIAN RELATIONS.
IN A FURTHER INDICATION OF WARMING TIES, THE KREMLIN SPOKESMAN
ANNOUNCED RUSSIA AND CHINA HOPED TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT ON REDUCING
ARMED FORCES ALONG SHARED BORDERS. THE OFFICIAL SAID TAJIKISTAN,
KYRGYSTAN AND KAZAKHSTAN WOULD ALSO LIKELY JOIN IN THE AGREEMENT.
(SIGNED)
NEB/EA/PCF/MMK
27-Dec-96 6:58 AM EST (1158 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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