Mr Putin and Mr Tang discussed in detail the prospects of bilateral trade and economic cooperation and development of contacts between Russian and Chinese regions. They also exchanged opinions on stepping up cultural exchanges.
Mr Putin confirmed a high extent of Russian-Chinese mutual understanding and confidence on all matters. There was nothing to darken bilateral relations, he said.
They also discussed the ways for the two countries to provide a material basis for strategic partnership as they were building up political, military and military-technological cooperation.
As Mr Putin stressed during the meeting, Russian-Chinese interaction had no analogue outside the CIS for intensity, breadth and the number of partnership fields.
Mr Tang passed Mr Putin a personal message from Chinese President Jiang Zemin. As the Minister said, the message stressed that “at a watershed of two eras, in a complicated and changeable situation, Russia and China were duty bound as great powers to work together for the preservation of global peace and stability, give their strategic partnership a practical purport, and strengthen their all-round cooperation.”
Mr Tang confirmed an invitation to Mr Putin to visit China within the year.