DATE=12/9/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA-RUSSIA (L)
NUMBER=2-256989
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Russian President Boris Yeltsin is in China
for two days of informal talks that are aimed at
increasing cooperation on international issues and
countering what the two countries perceive as the
dominant role of the United States. VOA correspondent
Roger Wilkison reports from Beijing, China welcomed
Mr. Yeltsin with a strong statement of support for his
government's military campaign in Chechnya.
TEXT: Mr Yeltsin - released from the hospital earlier
this week- looked pale and a bit unsteady as he
descended from his aircraft. He was whisked off to
the first of three scheduled meetings with Chinese
President Jiang Zemin, who greeted him in Russian as
an old friend.
The two heads of state later witnessed the signing of
agreements that effectively end a long border dispute
that brought the two countries to blows 30 years ago.
Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov called the
accords a new step in the strategic partnership
Beijing and Moscow say they are building.
Mr. Yeltsin arrived in Beijing as his government was
facing a torrent of criticism for its military
offensive in breakaway Chechnya. Western countries
say the Russian military has caused unnecessary
civilian casualties. But Mr. Ivanov said President
Jiang expressed Chinese support for Russia's efforts
to combat terrorism and extremism in Chechnya.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue --
speaking through an interpreter-- reiterated that
message at a briefing for reporters.
/////INTERPRETER ACTUALITY/////
The Chinese side maintains that the Chechnya issue is
purely an internal affair of Russia, a fact that has
been widely acknowledged by the international
community. The Chinese side understands and supports
the efforts made by Russia in safeguarding national
unity and territorial integrity. We have also taken
note of the fact that - in their action in Chechnya -
the Russian side has tried to avoid civilian losses.
/////END ACTUALITY/////
Russian sources say the two countries will issue a
joint statement Friday denouncing separatism and
international terrorism. The sources say the
statement will stress that it is the sovereign right
of independent states to resolve their own ethnic
problems and that the international community should
refrain from involvement in such questions. Both
countries saw NATO's bombing of Yugoslavia over
Kosovo, as a dangerous precedent for Western
intervention on humanitarian grounds in their own
affairs.
Beijing and Moscow also share a deep suspicion and
frustration over what they see as Washington's
preponderant role in world affairs. Spokeswoman Zhang
gave voice to that feeling on Thursday.
/////INTERPRETER ACTUALITY/////
Both leaders maintain that a multipolar world should
be established without one country dominating in the
world.
/////END ACTUALITY/////
China and Russia also want an end to Western criticism
of their internal policies (signed)
NEB/RW/FC/PLM
09-Dec-1999 06:05 AM EDT (09-Dec-1999 1105 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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