DATE=12/27/96

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-207975

TITLE=RUSSIA/CHINA (S)

BYLINE=ELIZABETH ARROTT

DATELINE=MOSCOW

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN EXPECTS TO HOST HIS 

CHINESE COUNTERPART, JIANG ZEMIN, AT A SUMMIT NEXT APRIL.  

V-O-A'S ELIZABETH ARROTT IN MOSCOW REPORTS THE ANTICIPATED 

MEETING UNDERSCORES RUSSIAN EFFORTS AT FORMING A STRATEGIC 

RELATIONSHIP WITH ITS EASTERN NEIGHBOR.



TEXT:  A KREMLIN SPOKESMAN SAID DETAILS OF THE APRIL SUMMIT WERE 

WORKED OUT BETWEEN MR. YELTSIN AND CHINESE PREMIER LI PENG, 

CURRENTLY ON A THREE-DAY VISIT TO MOSCOW.



BOTH SIDES ARE EAGER TO STRENGTHEN TIES, SUNDERED DURING SOVIET 

TIMES WHEN THE TWO COUNTRIES VIED FOR LEADERSHIP OF THE COMMUNIST

WORLD.  NOW, WITH THE THREAT OF THE NATO MILITARY ALLIANCE 

ENCROACHING ON RUSSIAN BORDERS, A MOSCOW-BEIJING ALLIANCE IS 

VIEWED BY MANY IN RUSSIA AS A USEFUL COUNTERBALANCE TO WESTERN 

PRESSURE.



BUT APPARENTLY TOPPING THE AGENDA DURING THE MEETING FRIDAY WERE 

ECONOMIC LINKS.  CHINA HAS PROPOSED A SPECIAL TRADE ZONE WITH 

RUSSIA.  RUSSIA HOPES CHINA WILL CONTINUE TO BUY RUSSIAN MILITARY

HARDWARE AND NUCLEAR ENERGY TECHNOLOGY.



AFTER MEETING WITH MR. LI AT THE KREMLIN, PRESIDENT YELTSIN SAID 

HE IS VERY MUCH SATISFIED WITH THE CURRENT STATE OF 

CHINESE-RUSSIAN RELATIONS.



IN A FURTHER INDICATION OF WARMING TIES, THE KREMLIN SPOKESMAN 

ANNOUNCED RUSSIA AND CHINA HOPED TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT ON REDUCING

ARMED FORCES ALONG SHARED BORDERS.  THE OFFICIAL SAID TAJIKISTAN,

KYRGYSTAN AND KAZAKHSTAN WOULD ALSO LIKELY JOIN IN THE AGREEMENT.

(SIGNED)



NEB/EA/PCF/MMK



27-Dec-96 6:58 AM EST (1158 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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