MOSCOW. Dec 26 (Interfax-AVN) - The State Duma on Wednesday ratified the Russia-China Friendship and Cooperation Treaty, which was signed in Moscow in July 2001.
The document contains the principles and major areas of long- term Russian-Chinese cooperation, without creating a military union. The document will last for 20 years and can be extended.
Under this Treaty, Russia and China will not use force or the threat of force, will not use pressure methods against each other, and will resolve conflicts using peaceful means. The Treaty confirms the obligations contained in the joint statement made on September 3, 1994, in which the nations promised not to use nuclear arms against each other and not to aim strategic nuclear missiles at each other.
Russia and China agreed not to take part in unions and blocs and not to undertake any actions that would harm the other's sovereignty, security or territorial integrity. For the first time in the history of Russian-Chinese relations, the treaty states that Russia and China have no territorial claims on each other.
Four hundred and seven deputies (the necessary minimum is 226) voted for the treaty, one voted against it, and one abstained.
The Russia-China treaty has already been ratified by the Chinese parliament.