(China Daily)
Updated: 2007-08-16 07:23

Russia

After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, China and Russia signed a summary of talks, solving the question of succession of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The two nations established a strategic partnership in 1996.

Since then, bilateral relations have strengthened in political, military, economic and cultural sectors. Russia is now China's eighth largest trading partner, and China is the third largest for Russia. Last year, bilateral trade volume reached $36 billion.

Two years ago, Chinese and Russian troops held their first-ever joint military exercise, called "Peace Mission 2005" in East China's Shandong Province. The on-the-battleground phase of "Peace Mission 2007" is in progress in Cheliyabinsk, Russia, as part of the drill involving the six SCO member states.

Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is China's second largest trading partner in Central Asia. Trade between the two countries touched $2.26 billion last year, up 128.9 percent over 2005.

President Hu Jintao began his state visit to the Central Asian country on Tuesday, and the two neighbors signed a joint communiqu and inked nine agreements on environmental protection, information technology, anti-drug trafficking and establishment of a Confucius Institute.

Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan has been China's largest trading partner in Central Asia for some time now. Kazakhstan exports steel, non-ferrous metals and oil to China and imports commodities such as textiles. Sino-Kazakhstan bilateral trade reached $8.358 billion last year, up 22.8 percent over 2005.

Uzbekistan

In September 2003, China and Uzbekistan signed a cooperation agreement on anti-terrorism, anti-separatism and anti-extremism.

A joint declaration on strengthening cooperation and friendship between the two neighbors was signed in June 2004 when President Hu Jintao visited Uzbekistan.

China and Uzbekistan are committed to developing transportation and promoting economic cooperation in fields of mutual interest such as energy, textile, telecommunication and agriculture products. Bilateral trade reached $970 million in 2006, up 42.8 percent over the previous year.

Tajikistan

In recent years, China and Tajikistan have successfully cooperated on fighting drug trafficking. They signed an agreement on anti-terrorism, anti-separatism and anti-extremism in 2003. The two neighbors held their first-ever joint military exercise in September 2006.

China Daily

(China Daily 08/16/2007 page2)