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20 December 2001 |
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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow.asp?art_ID=972787447 |
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BEIJING: China and Russia have held "intensive" talks on US plans to withdraw from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and the countries will continue close links on the issue, China's foreign ministry said on Tuesday. "Both sides held a wide and intensive exchange of views on the present international security situation and the major issues on disarmament and the arms control field," foreign ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said of Monday's talks in Moscow. "Both sides stressed that under the present situation the maintenance of the arms control and disarmament regime and the global strategic balance is of crucial importance to world peace and security," Zhang said. The talks between China's Vice Foreign Minister Wang Gangya and Russian counterpart Georgy Mamedov follow the announcement by US President George Bush late last week that the US would withdraw from the ABM treaty. The US will now proceed with the construction of a national missile shield, outlawed under the terms of the Cold War accord. China and Russia have consistently voiced opposition to the US missile defence plans, which they say could spark a new arms race, and at Monday's talks pledged to continue cooperation on the matter now US withdrawal from the ABM treaty has been confirmed. "Both sides agreed to maintain consultations and cooperation on this question," said Zhang. "Both sides have a consensus and common understanding on the US plan to develop NMD (National Missile Defence), so we hope the US side can heed the opinion of the majority of countries and exercise prudence," she added. (AFP)
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