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Sino-Russian summit to discuss trade and borders

In a joint statement earlier in the week, both sides said they wanted to discuss the issue of the Russian-Chinese border.

Chinese officials say they also want to promote trade with Russia.

In the last few years relations between the two countries have improved considerably.

In April this year, the two leaders met in Moscow for a summit which saw them united against Nato expansion and against what both countries see as excessive American influence in world affairs.

At this summit the emphasis will be on business, not politics.

President Yeltsin's spokesman Sergei Yastrzhembsky said: "The priority is how to overcome trade barriers and how to increase bilateral trade between the two countries."

Already, civilian trade is growing as restrictions are eased along the border. At the same time, China is hungry for Russian arms and now buys more weapons from Moscow than any other country.

Russia also believes that it can satisfy its neighbour's high demand for energy and natural resources.

Only a few years ago, such a partnership would have been unthinkable.

In the 1960s and 70s Chinese and Soviet troops clashed on the border and there were bitter rows over which country was the true standard bearer of Communism.

Now troops are being pulled away from the border and a final demarcation treaty is due to be signed next week.

The visit to China comes just a week after Yeltsin's informal summit meeting with the Japanese prime minister Ryutaro Hashimoto.

The BBC's Correspondent Andrew Harding says summits are a chance for Yeltsin to escape Russia's domestic problems and shine on the international stage.

Related Stories

China and Russia to clarify border issue
Yeltsin leaves confusion en route to China

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