At the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan paid an official visit to Russia from February 28th to March 1st. During the visit, Acting President and Prime Minister Putin met with him and the two Foreign Ministers held talks with each other.


Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan conveyed to Acting President Putin the letter from President Jiang Zemin, in which President Jiang held highly the sound development of the Sino-Russian Strategic Partnership of Cooperation. During the meeting, President Putin stressed that the Russian side will abide by the principles set in all the joint documents issued by the two sides and pointed out that the regular meetings between the leaders of both countries is of crucial importance to the development and deepening of the Sino-Russian Strategic Partnership of Cooperation. The two sides stated that a summit meeting would be held this year and agreed to prepare in real earnest the regular meeting between Chinese Premier and Russian Prime Minister.


The two Foreign Ministers exchanged views and reached a wide consensus on bilateral relations and major issues in the current international situation. Both sides pointed out with satisfaction that the cooperation between China and Russia is not targeted at a third country and has gradually become an important factor for the multi-polarization of the world and the establishment of a fair and rational international order. Both sides stressed that any act aimed at undermining the territorial integrity of a sovereign country is unacceptable. The Russian side reiterated that it will unswervingly pursue the one China policy and the Chinese side supports the anti-terrorist actions by the Russian Government in Chechnya.


During the visit, the two sides signed the agreements on the visits of citizens of the two countries and the visa exemption for group tourists. A Joint Communique was released at the end of the visit by Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan.