Analysis: Sino-Russian ties gaining momentum

Analysis: Sino-Russian ties gaining momentum
By Edward Lanfranco
United Press International
Published May 19, 2006

BEIJING -- The strategic partnership forged between China and Russia as a counterweight to American predominance on the world stage a decade ago is gaining momentum.

Analysts monitoring the development of the Sino-Russian alliance characterize developments this week as a combination of coordinated policies on major diplomatic issues to foster a multilateral international order, while at the same time both countries are taking incremental steps to deepen their bilateral relationship.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with his counterpart Li Zhaoxing to discuss the latest developments on the international situation, using Beijing as a platform for tough words for Washington.

Describing discussions Tuesday with his host as "long and pragmatic," Lavrov told a press conference that the two countries were united against sanctioning the use of force in the United Nations to thwart Iranian and North Korean nuclear ambitions.

In a veiled warning against unilateral action by the Bush administration Lavrov stated, "We confirmed today that neither Russia nor China will be able to support the Security Council's possible resolution that would contain a pretext for coercive, let alone military, measures."

Challenging U.S. efforts to isolate Iran, Lavrov said President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had been invited to attend the June 15 leadership summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

This year marks the fifth anniversary of the regional grouping which includes the Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The association, which analysts say is largely financed and directed by China with Russian support, is the PRC's first foray into regional strategic bloc building. Energy access and security underpins the Chinese strategy for expanding its influence.

China is using its growing economic muscle to forge closer trade and security links with member states. The group's influence is expanding, as the SCO granted Mongolia observer status in 2004 then added Iran, Pakistan and India as observers in 2005. Several countries have expressed interest in becoming full-fledged members.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao would not confirm Thursday if Ahmadinejad had accepted the invitation, saying the SCO would "respect the decision made by observer states on the representative they chose to send."

Liu was evasive responding to a question about increasing membership. He stated the topic had come up at the SCO foreign ministers' meeting on Monday with "several formal and informal requests to join" expressed. The spokesman said "the legal basis for more members was being studied."

Besides nuclear diplomacy and the SCO, China and Russia also agreed to coordinate efforts concerning Iraq, Afghanistan and U.N. reform, Lavrov told reporters.

During his meeting with the Russian foreign minister Tuesday, Chinese President Hu Jintao was quoted in state-run media expressing the hope that both sides "will intensify bilateral cooperation in major projects covering economic and trade issues, including energy, investment and technology, to achieve quick results."

The foreign ministry spokesman said Thursday "energy cooperation would hasten their comprehensive relationship," calling it "an important part of their complimentary economies."

Liu stated China was "satisfied" with collaboration with Russia on energy issues, mentioning crude oil shipments surpassed 10 million tons in 2005 and that ongoing work for crude and natural gas pipelines "were part of the ways to build mutual trust and a win-win situation."

While no progress on energy was reached during Lavrov's visit, he said "bilateral relations had reached unprecedented levels since the March summit meeting between Hu and Vladimir Putin." The two presidents will meet at the SCO gathering in June, followed by the G8 summit in St. Petersburg in July, then again at the APEC summit this autumn, he noted.

There were several subtle, yet key, developments during Lavrov's visit, designed to improve bilateral ties, step-by-step.

First was an agreement signed to rebuild a bridge over the Argun River, one of three islands on rivers of their nearly 2,700 mile long common border, which needs to be delimited. Since 1991, the two countries have resolved more than 98 percent of their border issues. Liu said negotiations on the remainder had been "thoroughly solved" and the demarcation agreement finalized in 2007.

The other measure was to set up a working commission on immigration. There are concerns in the sparsely populated Russian far east that China and its vast population has designs on annexing the area, with illegal immigrant workers the first step towards that goal.

Liu tried to allay such fears, saying his country "firmly opposes illegal immigration to Russia and other countries." He added that the commission will work on management and coordination of their borders.

"It is unnecessary to worry about such a threat," the spokesman said.