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Sino Soviet Joint
Communique
Moscow
19 May 1991
1. Jiang Zemin, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China (PRC), paid an official visit to the Soviet Union on May 15-19, 1991 at the invitation of Mikhail S. Gorbachev, president of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the USSR.
Jiang Zemin and M. S. Gorbachev exchanged views in a friendly, candid and business-like manner on Sino-Soviet relationship in all its aspects and on pressing international issues of common concern.
In the course of his visit, Jiang Zemin also met with Anatoly I. Lukyanov, president of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, and Valentin S. Pavlov, prime minister of the USSR. The distinguished Chinese guest visited Leningrad.
2. The current meeting between the Chinese and Soviet leaders is a continuation of the high-level meeting between Deng Xiaoping and M. S. Gorbachev in May 1989. Both sides make a high appraisal of the great significance of the normalization of Sino-Soviet relations and reaffirmed that they will continue to abide by the agreements reached at the Beijing meeting and the principles expounded in the "Sino-Soviet Joint Communique" dated May 18, 1989. They note with satisfaction that thanks to their joint efforts, the friendly and co-operative relations between the two countries are developing steadily in the political, economic, trade, scientific and technological, cultural, military and other fields.
Treasuring the achievements already made, both sides express readiness to further develop the relations of friendliness, good-neighborliness, mutual benefit and co-operation. This not only accords with the interests and aspirations of the peoples of the two countries, but also contributes to the maintenance of peace and stability in the whole world.
3. The ever-strengthening ties between the Chinese Communist Party and the Soviet Communist Party play a significant role in the overall Sino-Soviet relations. As has been proved in the past two years, it is useful to exchange information, opinions and experience in the party work under present conditions. Contacts between the two Parties in the future will be conducted continuously in accordance with the principles of independence, full equality, mutual respect and non-interference in each other's internal affairs.
4. Both China and the Soviet Union appraise positively the expanding scopes and diversifying forms of bilateral economic and trade ties. There exist mutual-complementarily and remarkable potential for co-operation in the economic sphere between the two countries. They will endeavor continuously to fulfill their long-term programme for economic, scientific and technological co-operation and other agreements in this field, expand compositive co-operative undertakings of mutual benefit, develop direct and cross-the-border ties between the provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities and enterprises in China on the one hand and the republics, territories, regions and enterprises in the Soviet Union on the other, and assure them of support from the central organs. Cash-based trade will be developed, and support will be given to all trade Corms taken in worldwide practice. Both sides will make an active search for new ways and methods of economic co-operation and for possibilities of cooperation with the third countries in realizing various business projects. Both are willing to conduct an extensive exchange of economic, scientific and technological information and experience in economic reforms. They will continue joint efforts for further enhancement of the effectiveness of the economic and trade co-operation between China and the Soviet Union on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.
5. The PRC and the USSR will encourage contacts between the citizens and conduct exchanges and co-operation between the legislative organs, ministries, state commissions and social organizations. Both sides will make efforts for further development of the scientific and cultural exchanges and closer contacts in education, sports and other fields.
Both sides agreed to promote exchanges and cooperation in the legal sphere, and work out and conclude an accord on judicial assistance in handling civil and criminal cases. The responsible organs of the PRC and the USSR will co-ordinate in the fight against organized crime, international terrorism, drug trafficking, smuggling and other criminal activities. The forms and methods of cooperation in this respect will be discussed on separate occasions.
6. Both sides affirm the positive developments in the negotiations on boundary issues between the two countries, and stress the necessity of securing the results in the form of treaty and law. They welcome the signing of the agreement on the eastern section of the Sino-Soviet state boundary. In the spirit of the "Sino-Soviet Joint Communique" of May 1989, both sides will continue intensively negotiations on the unfixed sections for a just and reasonable solution of the boundary issues left behind by history.
Both sides point out that the "Agreement on Mutual Reduction of Military Forces in Sino-Soviet Borders and the Guiding Principles for Enhancing Trust in the Military Field" signed by the two governments has made a positive contribution to the maintenance of tranquility and stability in the border areas and has strengthened mutual trust between the two countries. The two sides will carry out negotiations continuously and actively in the future for achieving practical results.
Both sides make it clear that normal and friendly contacts will be maintained between the military forces of the two countries.
7. The Chinese side reiterates that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China. Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the PRC. The Chinese side resolutely opposes any attempts or moves to create "two Chinas," "one China, one Taiwan," "one country with two governments" or "an independent Taiwan."
The Soviet Union supports this position of the PRC.
8. The leaders of the PRC and the USSR briefed each other on the present political, social and economic situation in their respective countries. They hold that it is beneficial to frequently exchange opinions on these issues. Some differences on opinions and methods of action between the two sides are natural and do not hinder the normal development of bilateral relations.
Both sides point out that socialism, as a new social system, can hardly avoid difficulties and contradictions in its development. In view of the realities in their respective countries, the two sides hold that reforms are necessary for tapping the potential of socialism. One important prerequisite for reforms is to maintain stability of the state and society. There are no universal patterns in carrying out reforms. The people of each country have the right to independently decide the affairs of their own country in light of its specific conditions.
9. M. S. Gorbachev gave a briefing on the efforts for preserving the Soviet Union as a revived federation of sovereign republics, and on the forthcoming signing of a new union treaty. The Chinese side expressed its understanding of the importance of a positive resolution of the problem.
10. The leaders of the PRC and the USSR exchanged views on major issues of the current international situation. They hold that the improvement of Soviet-US relations, the progress made in the field of disarmament, the relaxation of some regional conflicts or the emergence of prospects for their political settlement, are positive changes in the international situation. Meanwhile, they point out the situation in the world is far from being stable given the interwoven complex of contradictions of various kinds. Both sides express concern about the irrational international economic order, particularly the widening gap between the developed and developing nations, and the intensifying debt problem and the worsening of terms of international trade. The two sides will continue to promote the process of normalization of the international situation, arms reduction, and settlement of regional conflicts. The two sides reaffirm that neither the PRC nor the USSR will seek hegemony in the world, and they are opposed top hegemonism of whatever forms in international politics.
11. China and the Soviet Union attach great importance to deepening good-neighborly relations, multi-faceted co-operation, and security and stability in the Asian-Pacific region, which is conducive to peace and development of all countries in the region and that of the world in general. In recent years, some positive changes have taken place in this region, meanwhile, elements of instability still exist, and hot spots and unsettled conflicts remain. The two sides believe that the political and economic issues affecting the common interests of the Asian Pacific nations should be resolved through political dialogue and consultation on the basis of equality.
The PRC and the USSR are ready to make joint efforts for turning the Asian-Pacific region into a zone of openness, co-operation and prosperity.
12. The two sides express the hope for a comprehensive, just and reasonable solution to the Cambodian problem at an earliest possible date. They hold that the framework documents of the five permanent members of the Security Council of the United Nations constitute a good foundation for achieving a comprehensive political settlement in Cambodia. Both sides support the efforts made by the co-chairmen of the Paris International Conference on Cambodia and the UN Secretary-General, and call on all parties concerned in Cambodia to reach an agreement on a comprehensive solution on the basis of the above-mentioned documents in a shortest possible period of time.
13. China and the Soviet Union hold that relaxation of the situation on the Korean Peninsula is of great importance for the security and stability in northeast Asia. Both sides welcome the positive changes that have recently taken place on the peninsula, reaffirm their support for the realization of a peaceful reunification of Korea through dialogue and consultations between the north and south. They express the hope that the north and south will continue their dialogue for further improvement of mutual relations, and call for both sides to refrain from taking any acts that might impede detente on the peninsula and a peaceful reunification of Korea.
14. The two sides keep a watch with deep concern over the developments in the Gulf and in the Middle East as a whole. They consider it necessary to overcome the consequences of the earlier conflict in the Gulf region as soon as possible. They maintain that the affairs in the Gulf should be resolved mainly by the countries and peoples in that region through negotiations.
The PRC and the USSR are anxious about the Middle East problems that remain unsolved. The international community, the United Nations in particular, should participate more actively in the establishment of peace and stability in the region, and take practical measures for the implementation of the UN resolutions on the Middle East problem so that a just and lasting solution could be achieved. As permanent members of the UN Security Council, China and the Soviet Union will continue their efforts for a comprehensive settlement in the Middle East, including the solution of the Palestine problem.
15. Both sides point out that if the Soviet Union and the United States could achieve results in their negotiations on the reduction of strategic offensive weapons and have their agreements realized, that would be of positive significance to the consolidation of world security and would lay a foundation for the adoption of measures eventually leading to the complete and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons. Both sides stand for concluding an accord on complete prohibition and thorough destruction of all chemical weapons as speedily as possible, for strengthening the enforcement of the treaty on prohibition of biological weapons, and for reaching agreements on keeping the outer space free from all kinds of weapons.
16. China and the Soviet Union advocate a strengthening of the role of the UN in creating a peaceful condition for the life of all peoples and in providing a guarantee for stability and security of all countries. As permanent members of the UN Security Council, the two countries are ready to improve, together with other countries, the work efficiency of this organization so as to enable it to play a more active part in international affairs and in solving economic, social, population, ecological and other global problems.
17. The two sides stand for the establishment of a new and just international political and economic order which is conducive to the development of mankind, in the interests of world peace, and in accord with the common wishes of the peoples all over the world.
The new international order should be based on the universal principles governing state-to-state relations, namely, mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, noninterference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit and peaceful co-existence.
All countries have the right to choose their social system, ideology, economic model and path of development in light of their own characteristics. Differences in these respects should not be allowed to impede normal relations and co-operation between them. All countries, big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, have equal rights in discussing and handling world affairs.
International disputes should be solved through peaceful negotiations. In state-to-state relations, no country should impose its will upon others, nor should it use or threaten to use force.
In order to seek joint development and common prosperity, all countries should advance economic ties, and build up just international economic relations. No political strings should be attached to the provision of assistance.
The formation of the new international order is a long and complicated process. Active participation by all members of the international community, respect for the United Nations Charter and observance of the recognized norms of international law are the requirements for the setup of the new international order.
China and the Soviet Union express readiness to make further efforts, together with all countries in the world, for the establishment of the new international order.
18. The Chinese and the Soviet leaders highly evaluate the results of the meeting. They express satisfaction with the fact that relations between China and the Soviet Union, between the Chinese and Soviet Communist Parties and the traditional friendship between the two peoples are entering upon a new chapter.
The two sides are of the same view that political contacts and dialogue between leaders of the two countries are important and useful, and they should continue in the days ahead.
Jiang Zemin is grateful for the warm reception accorded him by the Soviet side. He invited Mikhail S. Gorbachev to visit China at a convenient time.
Mikhail S. Gorbachev accepted the invitation with gratitude.
This
material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin
Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of
International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the
opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or
its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2007 by
MIIS.
