Steve Quayle News Alerts

May 27, 2003
Robin Shepherd in Moscow

HU JINTAO, the President of China, opened a new chapter in his country’s relations with the outside world yesterday. He marked his first trip abroad as leader with a joint declaration of foreign policy aims with Russia.

Looking relaxed and jovial, President Hu presented the 13-page declaration at a joint press conference held in the Kremlin with President Putin.

While avoiding direct criticism of the war on Iraq, the document was peppered with references to the central role that the United Nations must play in the establishment of a multipolar world governed by international law. It also called for the resolution of all conflict by peaceful means.

“The two countries urge a settlement of all disputes through dialogue and co- operation, to reinforce and improve the system of international relations, to give a central role in the modern world to the UN,” the document said.

The declaration specifically called for a peaceful resolution of the stand-off between the United States and North Korea, saying that while the Stalinist state should not be developing nuclear weapons, its security had to be guaranteed. It also urged that Russia’s multibillion-dollar oil interests should not be forgotten in the postwar settlement in Iraq.

“In the postwar settlement and reconstruction in Iraq, the legitimate rights, interests and concerns of neighbouring states and other interested parties must be taken into consideration,” it said. “The central role in the postwar rebuilding of Iraq must be given to the UN.”

President Hu, who took over as Chinese leader from Jiang Zemin in March, will meet more than 40 other world leaders, including Tony Blair and President Bush, later this week at celebrations to mark the 300th anniversary of the founding of St Petersburg.

Russia and China wield veto powers at the United Nations and have formidable nuclear arsenals. While both countries are more focused on domestic issues such as economic development than on rivalling the United States internationally, they are clearly worried by what they perceive as Washington’s growing reliance on force to solve global problems.

Moscow and China have endured a turbulent relationship in recent decades. Close allies in the early 1950s, the two countries fell out in the aftermath of the reform programme of Nikita Kruschev, the former Soviet President. Relations hit a low in the late 1960s, with border clashes that left dozens dead on both sides.

Relations have become warmer since Russia ditched communism in favour of democratic capitalism. In 2001, Jiang Zemin signed a friendship treaty with Mr Putin. The Russian President said yesterday that relations between the two countries had never been better.

The joint declaration also pledged closer co-operation in the battle against the Sars outbreak.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-694605,00.html