At the invitation of Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov of the Russian Federation, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan of the People's Republic of China paid a formal visit to the Russian Federation from 28 February to 1 March 2000. The foreign ministers of the two countries held talks, during which they had a full exchange of views on major issues in bilateral relations and the current international situation. The talks were held in an atmosphere of mutual understanding and trust.

Acting President and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation met with Foreign Minister Tang, who forwarded a letter from President Jiang Zemin of the People's Republic of China to Putin. President Jiang spoke highly of the sound development of China-Russia strategic partnership of cooperation in his letter.

Putin emphasizes that Russia will strictly follow the line of all-round cooperation with China and pursue bilateral cooperation in various areas in a balanced manner in line with the principles set forth in the joint documents and agreements that the two sides have reached. He believes that regular meetings between state leaders of the two countries are vital to developing and deepening Russia-China strategic partnership of cooperation.

The two sides have reaffirmed their plan to have another summit this year.

Both sides have agreed to make preparations in real earnest for the forthcoming regular meeting between the two prime ministers so as to achieve tangible and practical results.

During the talks, Tang Jiaxuan and Ivanov noted with satisfaction that China-Russia cooperation, which was not directed against any third country, was increasingly becoming an important factor for the movement towards multi-polarity and for the establishment of a fair and reasonable international order.

The two foreign ministers advocate unconditional respect of the rights of the people of all nations to choose social systems, values and roads to development in the light of their own national conditions and are of the view that it is against the purposes and principles of the UN Charter to interfere in the internal affairs of other sovereign states in the name of humanitarian intervention and protection of human rights.

The two sides have emphasized that any act aimed at impairing territorial integrity of a sovereign state is unacceptable.

The two sides have pointed out that in the current situation, to maintain global strategic stability is of special importance to world peace. The two sides have agreed to continue to strengthen and deepen their cooperation in this regard. The 1972 ABM (anti-ballistic missile) Treaty underpins strategic stability. The two sides have evaluated positively the joint efforts made by the two countries in the UN and other international organizations to ensure an all-round and strict compliance of the Treaty.

The foreign ministers of the two countries have reaffirmed that China and Russia share common understanding on security and stability in their neighboring areas, including Asia-Pacific, Central Asia and South Asia. Both have expressed their readiness to promote all-round cooperation within the framework of the Shanghai Five.

China and Russia have voiced their support to the Asian-Pacific region for the active efforts made by regional organizations to maintain security in the region and reaffirmed their support for proposals put forward by some Asian countries to establish nuclear weapon free zones.

The Russian side has spoken highly of the smooth resumption by China of the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong and Macao, reaffirmed its position on the Taiwan question that was expounded in joint documents previously issued by the two countries and expressed its support for the efforts by the People's Republic of China in peaceful reunification.

The Chinese side has voiced its support for the anti-terrorist activities launched by the Government of the Russian Federation in Chechnya.

Tang Jiaxuan and Ivanov signed an agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Russian Federation on exchange of visits by their citizens. An agreement on the mutual exemption of visas for group tourists was also signed during the visit.

Foreign Minister Tang has expressed his thanks to the host for the warm reception he was accorded in Moscow and extended an invitation to Foreign Minister Ivanov for a visit to China. Ivanov has accepted the invitation with pleasure and the date of the visit will be fixed through diplomatic channels.