China, Russia vow to end delimitation of border

The strategic partners have vowed to finish delimitation of remaining parts of land along their border by 2007 end.

Strategic partners China and Russia, who "thoroughly settled" their boundary disputes, have vowed to finish delimitation of remaining parts of land along their border by the end of 2007.

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The two nations will also work out a mechanism to reduce troop presence along the 4,300 km line.

These promises were contained in a joint statement signed here on Tuesday night by Chinese President Hu Jintao and his visiting Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin as the two sides also pledged to enhance cooperation in politics, energy and regional affairs.

China and Russia thoroughly settled their boundary disputes last year after 40 years of negotiations, said the statement.

The Supplementary Agreement on the Eastern Section of the China-Russia Boundary Line signed in 2004 symbolises that the two countries have completely solved the border issues, the statement added.

The completion of delimitation and the smooth implementation of the agreement on strengthening military trust and mutual reduction of armed forces on the border areas, as well as the agreement on common economic use of certain islands in the border rivers and surrounding waters during the past ten years, are conducive to peace and friendship on the China-Russia border areas, it said.

Both sides also pointed out with satisfaction that the preparation for delimitation is proceeding as scheduled by both sides, it said.