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Russian ambassador to promote partnership
By Qin Jize (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-08-22 06:01
Russia's new ambassador to China Sergei Razov arrived in Beijing on Saturday
to take office, pledging to give priority to the development of bilateral
economic ties.
He told reporters at the airport that his major task is to further promote
the Russia-China strategic co-operative partnership in all fields, including
political, economic and military co-operation, and cultural exchanges.
The diplomat said that the leaders of Russia and China have "set the task of
bringing bilateral turnover up to US$60 to 80 billion by 2010," adding that
there are still major investment projects to be implemented in the future.
Sergei Razov was appointed to the post of ambassador of Russia to China in
accordance with a presidential decree in June.
He replaced Igor Rogachev, who had held the position for 13 years.
Observers said that 73-year-old Rogachev's wonderful performance made it
difficult for Russian President Vladimir Putin to select a successor, and it is
widely believed that Putin expects much of his ambassador.
During Chinese President Hu Jintao's four-day state visit to Russia this
July, Putin deliberately introduced the new ambassador to his Chinese
counterpart in the Kremlin, describing Razov as an "experienced diplomat."
Ten days before Razov's trip to Beijing, Putin told the new ambassador at a
meeting that his priority should be forging closer economic ties between the two
countries.
He also told Razov to encourage dialogue on energy, and speed up
implementation of joint oil, gas and electricity projects, according to the
Kremlin website.
"Trade is developing well enough, but the real prospects are much broader and
we have many spare reserves yet," Putin was quoted as saying, while noting in
particular the energy sector and working together in foreign markets.
Pan Zhanlin, an expert on Russian issues, said Sino-Russian relations have
been developing smoothly in terms of high-level political exchanges, the volume
of trade co-operation as well as public contacts.
He said the development of these relations is beneficial to both countries.
Considering that bilateral ties have usually been reported in the past as
"hot politics and cold economics," Pan said that economic and trade co-operation
has been developing quite well in recent years.
The bilateral trade volume exceeded US$20 billion for the first time last
year, two times the volume in 2001.
"Political relations have to be built on solid economic co-operations," he
added.
Razov, 52, was deputy foreign minister prior to his new appointment and has
also served as Russia's ambassador to Mongolia and Poland.
He used to work in the Russian Embassy in Beijing in the mid-1970s, after he
graduated from Moscow State Institute of International Relations as a Chinese
major.
It is reported that his son is also studying Chinese at the same college, and
is possibly coming to China for further study this autumn.
(China Daily 08/22/2005 page2)
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