Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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July 21, 2008

China, Russia Sign Border Agreement 
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1D54358:A6F02AD83191E16011DB7957D8653DE35C6F54A6CF9DC2CA&
 
Russian Foreign Minister hails document which both sides agree will
produce long-term benefits in building 'friendly neighborhood' 
China and Russia have signed a border agreement that settles the
demarcation of their 4,300-kilometer border. Stephanie Ho reports from
Beijing. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, shakes hand with
China's President Hu Jintao in Beijing, 21 Jul 2008In a sign of warming
relations, China and Russia signed a pact Monday resolving disputes over
the long border that separates the two former Communist rivals. The
agreement was initialed by visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey
Lavrov and his Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi.The Chinese foreign
minister says the two have just signed the Sino-Russian Border Line
Agreement, which settles the 4,300-kilometer border between the two
countries.Lavrov said both parties have agreed to compromises to resolve
the border dispute.He says both sides are aware of he long term benefits
in building what he called a "friendly neighborhood."The official China
Daily newspaper says Russia will return 174 square kilometers of
territo!
 ry.The newspaper says Russia will return Yinlong Island, also known as
Tarabarov Island in Russian, and half of Heixiazi Island, also known as
Bolshoi Ussuriysky.Both areas are in northeast China, near the
Heilongjiang, or Amur, River.China and Russia have had border disputes
for centuries. These conflicts culminated in violent border clashes in
the 1960's and 70's, when Sino-Soviet relations were at their worst.Both
foreign ministers said the talks were "fruitful." The Russian foreign
minister's trip to China follows a visit in May by new Russian President
Dmitry Medvedev.China has become one of the world's largest consumers of
oil and power, and is looking to secure access to Russia's oil and gas
deposits.Meanwhile, Lavrov also told reporters that Russian Prime
Minister Vladimir Putin will join U.S. President George Bush and French
President Nicolas Sarkozy at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic
games, August 8.


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