Russia, China sign protocol on strategic security cooperation.

8/12 Tass 114

BEIJING, December 8 (Itar-Tass) - Russian Security Council Secretary
Nikolai Patrushev and Chinese State Council official Dai Bingguo signed on
Tuesday a protocol on cooperation within the framework of Russian-Chinese
consultations on strategic security.

The document was signed after the fourth round of consultations on the
issue, held in Beijing. The protocol was signed with an aim to further
improve mutual trust in the political sphere and strategic cooperation
between Russia and China, to strengthen cooperation in the economic,
military, humanitarian and other areas.
Nikolai Patrushev stressed at the consultations that it is only
possible to fight against global challenges and threats through joint
efforts of all states. "The world is undergoing the stage of a deep
transformation," Patrushev told reporters. "Apart from financial and
economic turmoils, regional and local conflicts, terrorism, trans-border
crimes, deficit of foodstuffs and drinking water as well as climate
changes keep threatening the world's development," he stressed.
Patrushev expressed hope that "the current meeting will contribute to
deepening strategic partnership, will help to work out recommendations and
offers to leaders of the two countries".
The sides also focused on political and economic cooperation,
including border cooperation. According to Patrushev, consultations were
businesslike, not formal, and were fully in line with the level of
relations of strategic partnership and cooperation between Russia and China
On Tuesday, Nikolai Patrushev is expected to meet with Chinese
President Hu Jintao and Minister of Public Security Meng Jianzhu.
The mechanism of interstate consultations on strategic security was
launched in 2005. It was the first such format that China had set up with
another country. Moscow and Beijing discuss tasks of fight against new
threats and challenges as well as cooperation on the international arena.
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