… AS MOSCOW AGAIN FLASHES ITS CHINA CARD.

As it has in the past, Moscow ensured yesterday that its blossoming friendship with China was highlighted alongside news of its negotiations with NATO. In Beijing on an official visit, Russian deputy foreign minister Grigori Karasin announced that preparations were proceeding for a summit meeting between the Russian and Chinese presidents in April. As part of these preparations, according to Karasin, Chinese foreign Minister Qian Qichen will visit Moscow at the end of March. Karasin also said that the two sides were in the midst of drafting a political document that would outline a common Russian-Chinese view on international realities in a multi-polar, post-confrontational world. This formulation has been used by Moscow and Beijing to counter what they claim is the West’s vision of a uni-polar, bloc-based world dominated by the U.S. and NATO. (Itar-Tass, January 20)

Regional Alliance Proposal Revived.