Chinese President Jiang Congratulates China-Russian Committee Session Chinese President Jiang Zemin on Thursday sent a congratulatory message to the Sino-Russian Committee for Friendship, Peace and Development for their third plenary session, which opened Wednesday. Jiang highly praised the committee for its efforts in promoting mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese and Russian people, and also for the good-neighborly relations and cooperation in various areas between the two countries. He said the year 2000 marks an important period in China-Russia relations as Russian President Vladimir Putin visited China this year and the two heads of state together set up the framework of future development on bilateral relations. China and Russia need to maintain a long-term good-neighborly friendship, constantly enrich their strategic partnership and strengthen their cooperation in various areas, he said, adding that it will be good for the fundamental interests of both peoples, and for promoting multi-polarity of the world and peace and stability of the world. Therefore, it is of great importance that the two sides increase non-official friendly contacts, broaden the social basis of good-neighborliness and increase mutual understanding and trust. The committee has an important role to play, Jiang stressed, adding that he will, like President Putin, continue to support the work of the committee. Jiang said he supports the theme of the current session -- the position, role and task of the committee in expanding Sino-Russian economic relations, trade, and cooperation in science and technology. The president said he hopes members of the committee will forward useful suggestions and proposals on the cooperation to governments of the two countries and help push forward China-Russian friendship.
