Military cooperation between Russia and China is not targeted at a third country but is aimed to guarantee regional peace and security, stressed Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Ivanov in Beijing Wednesday at a press conference after talks with his Chinese counterpart.

 

Ivanov said that during the talks with Chinese Minister of National Defense Cao Gangchuan, the two sides discussed the framework of cooperation in military technology, but details of this cooperation need further consultation.

 

The military cooperation between the two sides?is large in scale and rapid in speed, including exchanges of visits, personnel training and sending military observers to the other to watch military exercises, Ivanov said.

 

Ivanov said he also exchanged views with Cao on the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula. "The nuclear issue has an impact on the peace and security of the Asian and Pacific region," he said.

 

"We believe that there are no other channels to solve the issue than political and peaceful means," he said. "We call upon the parties concerned to start the third round of six-party talks early."

 

On the fight against terrorism, Ivanov said the fight is a popular topic today, but Russia opposes a double standard on the issue.

 

Cooperation between Russia and China in this area has concrete content, he said.

 

The two sides have conducted joint military exercises against terrorism?within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, he said, adding similar exercises will be held in the future.

 

Cao Gangchuan also answered questions at the press conference. He said Ivanov visited China shortly after he was?reappointed as the Russian Minister of Defense, which reflected that the new Russian government values its friendly relations with China.

 

Cao said that during his talks with Ivanov, the two sides highly evaluated the strategic partnership of cooperation between the two countries and both sides vowed to push forward bilateral relations between the two countries and armed forces.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 22, 2004)