Russia-China border ties must be brought to new level - official.

SUIFENGHE (HEILONGJIANG PROVINCE), October 9 (Itar-Tass) - The
experience of border cooperation between Russia and China dictates the
necessity to bring these relations to a qualitatively new level, Russian
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov said on Wednesday at the second
forum two countries' political parties.
The Russian official reminded the audience that the forum takes place
ahead of the 14th regular meeting of the Russian and Chinese heads of
government as well as the 13th session of the Russian-Chinese commission
which paves the way for these meetings that are "the main formats of
discussions on practical issues of bilateral cooperation".
With that in view "it is particularly important to once again
'synchronize watches' and exchange opinions on all aspects of
Russian-Chinese cooperation, including on border ties," Zhukov stressed.
"This matter is constantly in the focus of attention of the Russian
and Chinese leadership," the deputy prime minister said. "The accumulated
experience of cooperation objectively dictates the necessity to bring
border cooperation to a qualitatively new level, with a transition from
simple trade operations, which are developed rather well, to the
implementation of joint investment projects on both sides of the border"
he added.
"Considerable progress has been registered there of late," he noted.
It is connected "with an expansion of a dialogue on that issue within the
framework of the permanent working group on inter-regional and border
cooperation," he explained.
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