China/Russia - cooperation

China and Russia sign multi-billion dollar deals

Article published on the 2009-10-13 Latest update 2009-10-13 13:57 TU

Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) and China's Premier Wen Jiabao toast during a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing
(Photo: Reuters)

China and Russia have strengthened their ties by signing a raft of deals while Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin made a visit to Beijing. The two sides signed several cooperation agreements Monday, as well as a number of commercial accords, including a natural gas partnership between the countries’ two national energy companies.

"Before the start of the Russian economic forum, various deals and contracts between Russian and Chinese businessmen were signed,” Putin’s deputy Alexander Zhukov told reporters. “The total value is around 3.5 billion dollars.”

Russian Gazprom and the China National Petroleum Corporation signed a framework agreement which Gazprom head Alexei Miller said would eventually see 70 billion cubic metres of natural gas sent to China per year.

Putin hailed what he called an "unprecedented" level of understanding between the two countries during a joint appearance with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, following talks between the two at the Great Hall of the People.

"The unprecedented level of mutual understanding allows us to successfully solve any problems," said Putin, who was making his first official visit to China since taking over as prime minister last year.

"The strategic partnership between Russia and China is developing dynamically," he said.

China-Russian ties are "a role model of relations between neighbouring countries and relations between big powers,” said Wen, quoted by China's official Xinhua news agency. "China is willing to work with Russia to make greater achievements in the future.”

One of the cooperation agreements commits each country to notifying the other of the launch of ballistic missiles.

Putin, who will attend a heads of government meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation on Wednesday, called the missile agreement "a very important step in the direction of ramping up trust towards each other and strengthening strategic cooperation."

During Putin's visit, the two nations were also expected to discuss their response to the Iranian and North Korean nuclear programmes.

“I think based on the national interests of Russia or national interests of China, both countries certainly agree the Korea peninsula should be free of nuclear weapons, it is very important,” analyst Sun Laixiang of London University told RFI.

“China is relatively close to the North Korean authority,” Sun said. “Russia is less close, but still close by European standards. They should reach a common standing.”

“The other question is about Iran,” he added, saying that it is “a little bit more difficult because Iran has been a very important oil supplier to China.”

“It’s a very difficult situation if based on economic considerations,” said Sun.