By Country / Russia
Russian, Chinese FMs Discuss Central Asian Stability
June 01, 2005
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (file photo)
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1 June 2005 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said today that Russia and China will work together to prevent what he called "destabilization" in Central Asia.
Lavrov was speaking after meeting his Chinese counterpart Li Zhaoxing in Russia's Far East port city of Vladivostok.
He said they had agreed to redouble efforts to "combat terrorism in Central Asia and prevent destabilization" in the region, through the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
Organization members Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan focus on security issues. Foreign ministers from the SCO states will be meeting in Kazakhstan this week.
Tomorrow, the Russian and Chinese ministers will be joined by Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh for talks on transport and energy links, counterterrorism, and trade.
(AFP, RFE/RL's Russian Service)