BEIJING. Oct 14 (Interfax-AVN) - Russian President Vladimir Putin called the Russian-Chinese top level negotiations in Beijing on Thursday "a meeting of breakthrough decisions."
Speaking after the ceremony at which thirteen bilateral agreements were signed, he called current relations between the two countries are trustworthy and substantial.
Putin evaluated the signing of an agreement on the eastern part of the Russian-Chinese border as an important political step.
"The border question in our countries' relations has been fully resolved," Putin said. He noted that the negotiations with Beijing on this subject lasted for 40 years.
The sides have reached a "balanced decision, harmonized with both countries' interests," in the border issue, as a result of which "the border has been legally formed and set in its place," he said.
The solution of the border issue has produced new opportunities for Russian-Chinese cooperation in seafaring, fishing, resource use, environmental protection and agricultural, Putin said.
Putin called the conclusion of negotiations with China on Russia's WTO accession another strategic step. This achievement opens "new opportunities to escalate the amount of bilateral cooperation," he said.
The president said that trade between the two countries may reach $20 billion this year, although more should be expected. China's trade with the U.S., Japan and the European Union averages approximately $100 million each per year, he noted.
The task of increasing trade to $60 billion per year in 5-6 years is realistic, and in the future trade may approach $100 billion, he said. Putin said that nuclear and conventional energy, aerospace and other hi-technology industries are the most promising areas for cooperation.
Putin stressed the importance of cooperation between Russian and Chinese regions. He said that it was agreed to stage a year of Russia in China in 2006, and a year of China in Russia in 2007.
Speaking at a Beijing briefing later on Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov talked about resolution of the border issue. For the first time in 300 years, the two nations have a completely coordinated, legal border totaling 4,300 kilometers in length, he said.
An agreement was signed in Beijing on Thursday on issues related to the eastern part of the Russian-Chinese border, including ownership of an island on the Lagun river and several isles at the Ussur river's entrance into the Amur near Khabarovsk.
Lavrov said the newly formed border will pass through these isles. As for the Argun river island, a decision was reached that leaves the water intake device on the island in Russia's possession.