DATE=12/26/96
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-207952
TITLE=RUSSIA / CHINA (S-ONLY)
BYLINE=ELIZABETH ARROTT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: CHINESE PREMIER LI PENG HAS ARRIVED IN RUSSIA FOR A
THREE-DAY VISIT. V-O-A'S ELIZABETH ARROTT IN MOSCOW REPORTS THE
TRIP IS AIMED AT BOOSTING ECONOMIC TIES.
TEXT: PREMIER LI SEEMS ASSURED OF A WARM POLITICAL RECEPTION.
IF ALL GOES TO PLAN, ON FRIDAY HE WILL BECOME THE FIRST FOREIGN
LEADER TO MEET RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN SINCE THE
PRESIDENT'S RETURN TO THE KREMLIN FOLLOWING HEART SURGERY.
THE VISIT WILL LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR A SUMMIT BETWEEN MR.
YELTSIN AND CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN NEXT YEAR. FORMER
RIVALS, BOTH SIDES HAVE IN POST-SOVIET TIMES BENEFITED FROM A
RELATIONSHIP THAT OFFSETS WESTERN POLITICAL PRESSURE.
BUT BEIJING AND MOSCOW ARE ANXIOUS THAT POLITICAL LINKS ARE
MATCHED BY ECONOMIC ONES. TRADE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO HAVE
FAILED TO MEET EXPECTATIONS.
RUSSIA'S SLUGGISH ECONOMY WOULD STAND TO GAIN FROM A PROPOSED
SPECIAL TRADE ZONE, WHILE CHINA HOPES THE PLAN WOULD PROVIDE
ANOTHER OUTLET FOR ITS RELATIVELY HUGE PRODUCTION OUTPUT.
DURING TALKS IN MOSCOW, THE TWO SIDES ALSO HOPE TO RESOLVE
DIFFERENCES OVER PAYMENT FOR RUSSIAN NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY AND
FURTHER PLANS FOR INCREASING RUSSIAN SALES OF MILITARY HARDWARE.
(SIGNED)
NEB/EA/JWH
26-Dec-96 8:53 AM EST (1353 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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