-Caveat Lector- Russia, China Seek Closer Alliance By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV .c The Associated Press BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (AP) - Boris Yeltsin met with Chinese President Jiang Zemin on Wednesday and the two leaders signaled their desire to forge a closer alliance to counterbalance U.S. global clout. The Russian president and Jiang met for one-on-one talks before taking part in a five-nation summit in Kyrgyzstan, a former Soviet state in central Asia. The summit's goal was to improve stability along China's lengthy border with Russia and three former Soviet republics: Kyrgyzstan, Kazakstan and Tajikistan. After tension between Moscow and Beijing during the Cold War, relations have warmed considerably in this decade, and the leaders of the two countries meet regularly. Moscow has made it clear it wants better ties in Asia since NATO's airstrikes against Yugoslavia this spring, which Russia staunchly opposed. ``The current summit is taking place in conditions of an aggravated international situation,'' Yeltsin said. ``Some nations are trying to build a world order that would be convenient only for them, ignoring that the world is multi-polar.'' Jiang made similar remarks in his speech. ``The process of forming a multi-polar world is difficult, but it has become an irreversible trend,'' he said. Jiang did not mention the United States by name, but he appeared to refer to Washington when he said there was a ``new display of hegemony relying on force, and it has already drawn concern on the international scene.'' Russia and China had a falling-out in the late 1950s, but after the Soviet collapse relations between the two countries have improved considerably. China has become one of Russia's major trading partners and is a top client for its ailing military industry, purchasing billions of dollars worth of jets, missiles and submarines. ``The meeting between Boris Yeltsin and Jiang Zemin took place in a very warm and friendly atmosphere,'' said Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov. ``Our relations are now at a peak and that meets the interests of both nations as well as the interests of regional and international stability.'' The five-nation summit was the fourth such meeting since April 1996, when the leaders first met in Shanghai and agreed on a series of confidence-building measures along the border. ``Russia has strategic interests in maintaining stability and security in Asia,'' Yeltsin said. ``We would like to see this region developing good neighborly links.'' The five leaders signed an agreement to cooperate on fighting crime and drug trafficking across their borders. Under previous agreements, the countries have reduced troop levels and limited military activity along their borders. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
