Foreign Correspondence

[Amaunet]

Russia, China to increase arms trade

Jul 8 2004 7:22PM

MOSCOW. July 8 (Interfax) - Russia and China intend to begin carrying out several arms trade programs, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov said following his meeting with Chinese Central Military Council Deputy Chairman Guo Boxiong.

"We have achieved a high level of military and technical cooperation. We think we have prospects ahead of us and this statement can be supported by facts," Fradkov said.

He said that "it would be appropriate to confirm that the current level of Russian-Chinese relations is characterized by the strengthening of mutual trust and the beginnings of active work on a number of arms trade programs."

Guo Boxiong is visiting Russia at the invitation of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov.

http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/0/28.html?id_issue=9719257