(23 Apr 1997) Russian/Eng/Nat
President Boris Yeltsin and visiting Chinese leader Jiang Zemin Wednesday pledged to seek a "multipolar world" that would challenge the U-S role as the sole superpower.
The two leaders signed a joint declaration stressing their shared opposition to "the policy of blocs," a clear reference to the United States and NATO.
The signing underlined the warming relations between the two countries and their growing discontent with U-S foreign policy.
President Boris Yeltsin Wednesday warmly greeted his Chinese counterpart Jiang Zemin when he arrived at the Kremlin.
After round-table discussions, the two leaders signed a joint declaration on a "multi-polar world", aimed at strengthening their partnership for closer cooperation in the next century.
The signing of the joint declaration comes at a time when Russia is embroiled in a bitter dispute over NATO's eastward expansion plans.
Russia, eager to offset what it perceives as a threat to its security, has turned to Asia for new allies, with China foremost among them.
Russia and China have both criticised attempts to preserve "Cold War thinking" with one country assuming international leadership - a clear reference to the United States.
And in a short address after the signing, President Yeltsin spoke of the multi-polarity he is striving for.
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"Some are trying to drag us to a unipolar world all of the time, wish to dictate to the entire world. But we want multipolarity. There must be several pillars on which the present world order should rest."
SUPER CAPTION: President Boris Yeltsin
Reactions to the signing of the joint declaration were varied.
One political analyst said he believed Yeltsin felt that Russia would find friends in the East if the West neglected him.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"One of the primary motives why President Yeltsin has decided to sign such a declaration with his Chinese counterpart is to somehow demonstrate to the West that Russia is not isolated. But even if Russia's interests are neglected in the West, it may always find some partners in the East."
SUPER CAPTION: Viktor Kremenyuk, USA-Canada Institute
The leader of Russia's Communist Party said he believed it was important to develop good relations with all nations - not just China.
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"No one will be able to dictate to another the order of the world, so we want to have good relations with East and West, China and the US."
SUPER CAPTION: Gennady Zyuganov, Russian Communist Party leader
As is the custom among visiting leaders, Chinese President Jiang Zemin went to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier earlier on Wednesday.
The Russian military put on an impressive display in honour of their Chinese visitor.
Jiang was accompanied by Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov.
They paid their respects to the Eternal Flame, which appeared to symbolise the warming relations between China and Russia and their growing discontent with U-S foreign policy.
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