Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing met in Beijing Wednesday with Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov Wednesday for an exchange of views on bilateral ties and regional and international issues in 2004.  

Li said the past year had seen Sino-Russian strategic cooperative partnership record big progress in every major sphere. In the new year, the two countries would implement the cooperation agreements reached between their presidents and prime ministers, enhance political mutual trust, further in-depth trade and economic cooperation, strengthen strategic coordination and expand social contacts so that cooperation would yield new results.

Ivanov expressed total agreement with Li on the goals he had outlined for the new year, saying that Russia was ready to work with the Chinese side to consolidate past achievements and further advance their strategic cooperative partnership.

The two ministers also decided to designate 2004 as "the year for promoting friendship between young people of the two nations".

Li said the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) would on Thursday inaugurate its secretariat and the SCO would usher in a new era.

He said member states of the SCO should strive to cooperate more substantially and bring their people real benefits.

Ivanov said the SCO was playing a crucial role in safeguarding regional security and stability. Russia would work closely with other member nations, including China, to further promote the work of the organization.

After the meeting, the two foreign ministers signed a plan for consultations between the two foreign ministries in 2004.

(Xinhua News Agency January 15, 2004)