Visiting Vice Premier Li Lanqing of the State Council met with Russian Prime Minister Kasyanov on the afternoon of Dec. 4, 2000.

Li first congratulated Kasyanov upon his recent successful visit to China and conveyed Premier Zhu’s greetings to him.

He went on to say that his ongoing official visit is aimed at implementing the consensus reached by the Prime Ministers of the two countries when they met in Beijing not long ago and presiding over the first conference ever of the China-Russia Committee of Cooperation in education, culture, public health, sports together with Deputy Prime Minister Matviyenko, signing relevant documents, furthering the strategic partnership of coordination between the two countries and paying an official visit to Russia.

He noted that China-Russia relations have developed very smoothly and at their historically best period, adding that bilateral cooperation in politics, economy, science and technology has been further advanced and the two countries have supported each other and cooperated closely in major international issues. He noted that the establishment and development of strategic partnership of coordination launched by the heads of state of the two countries conforms to the fundamental interests of both countries and both peoples and conduces to the peace and stability of the region and the world at large.

Prime Minister Kasyanov warmly welcomed Li and his entourage, calling Li an old friend of Russian people and saying that he is sure that Li will be warmly received by the Russian people during the visit.

He noted that he paid a successful visit to China not long ago, during which he and Premier Zhu had an in-depth exchange of views on furthering the strategic partnership of coordination in the new century. He added that China and Russia should not only develop political ties, but also further develop bilateral cooperation in science, education, culture, public health and sports. He was convinced that the first conference of the China- Russia Committee of Cooperation presided over by Li and his Russian counterpart will yield positive results and will be of great significance to the promotion and enrichment of bilateral strategic partnership of coordination.

The meeting was held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere. They also exchanged views on how to augment bilateral cooperation in science, education, sports, culture, public health and others.