Chi, also vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China and a state councilor, said the strategic cooperative partnership between China and Russia conforms with the long-term and fundamental interests of the two peoples, and also plays an important role in promoting multipolarization and democratization.

The recent meeting between Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Russian President Vladimir Putin made a strategic outline about the future development of bilateral relations, Chi said.

At present, political trust between the two countries is deepening, the fields of cooperation are expanding and the strategic cooperative partnership has entered a new stage of maturity and stability, he said.

The regular Sino-Russian military consultations between the two general staffs reflects the further development of bilateral military ties, he said.

The talks are conducive to promoting mutual understanding and trust, boosting exchanges and cooperation and coordinating the stance of the two countries on international affairs, he added.

Chi added that friendly cooperative Sino-Russian ties between the two armed forces play an important role in the stability and development of the two countries as well as world peace.

Baluyevsky said the recent meeting between the two heads of state set the direction for the future development of bilateral relations and injected new vitality into the Sino-Russian strategic cooperative partnership.

The productive sixth round of Sino-Russian military talks has boosted the further development of bilateral ties, he said, adding the military officials of both countries has exchanged friendly and frank views on issues of common concern.

(Xinhua News Agency December 18, 2002)