Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said on Wednesday that Russia would expand cooperation with China, as the two countries share common stand on most international issues.
In his interview with the influential Izvestia Daily, Ivanov dismissed the claim by some Russians that China could impose a threat to their country 10 years later.
Russia and China are neighbors forever, said the minister. The two countries should develop bilateral relations and cooperation on the basis of mutual benefit to mute such voice.
Ivanov praised the quick development of economic and trade cooperation between Russia and China, which he said had been consolidated since Chinese President Jiang Zemin visited Russia in June.
The two countries have been planning and carrying out a series of large-scale cooperation projects, he added.
(People's Daily July 11, 2002)
