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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