President Jiang Zemin arrived in Moscow Sunday to kick off a four-day state visit aimed at opening a new chapter in Sino-Russian ties.

"The consolidation and strengthening of a new type of inter-state relations between China and Russia is fundamental to the interests of both countries and to peace, stability and development,'' said Jiang in a written statement issued upon his arrival.

The new era would be characterized by being helpful, equal neighbours who value trust and common development.

Jiang met Russian President Vladimir Putin Today. Later they will sign the Treaty of Good Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation.

Jiang said the treaty will lay a solid foundation for the bilateral ties in the distant future.

"President Jiang's visit will be one of the central events in bilateral contacts this year and the most important event in terms of the dynamically expanding strategic partnership and joint action shared by Russia and China,'' said Russian Ambassador to China Igor Rogachev.

Rogachev described Jiang's visit as "historic and marking the start of a new era.''

Jiang's five-nation tour will also take him to Eastern Europe's Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine and the Mediterranean island nation of Malta.

Ambassadors of those nations also expressed enthusiasm for the coming visits.

"We hope that the visit will be positive for Ukraine-Sino relations and will become an important practical step to cooperation on large-scale projects, '' said Ihor Lytvyn, Ukrainian ambassador to China.

Moldovan Ambassador to China Vassili Shova called the first-ever state visit by the Chinese president to Moldova "a very special page'' in the history of the two countries.

China has maintained sound and stable relations with these countries, highlighted by close cooperation in economic, trade, cultural fields as well as in international organizations.

"The consolidation of cooperation necessitates that both countries work harder to ensure more frequent contacts,'' Malta's Ambassador to China Saviour F. Borg said. "Contacts and consultations at the human level should remain an important link.''

Bilateral relations with these countries have been enhanced with frequent exchanges of high-level visits over the past decade.

"High-level visits reflect the political attention and desire of the governments of two countries to maintain and further strengthen bilateral relations,'' Lytvyn said.

Economic co-ops highlighted

Economic cooperation is also a goal to this swing of visits. Officials from all these nations hope trade volumes with China continue to rise.

"Our paramount task is to raise trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation to the existing high level of the political relations,'' said Vladimir Rusakevich, Belarussian ambassador to China.

Each nation has its own strengths. The Ukraine offers more opportunities in cooperation in high-tech such as aviation and aerospace, the southeastern European country Moldova says it wants to set up joint ventures to use its local raw materials, and Malta views itself as a strategically good ally of Chinese entrepreneurs and businessmen trading in the Mediterranean region.

China has set up economic and trade committees with Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus and Malta. The nation also has held five annual prime minister-level consultations with Russia.

(China Daily 07/16/2001)