CHINA: BEIJING: YELTSIN ATTENDS INFORMAL SUMMIT (2)

Описание: (9 Dec 1999) Russian/Nat

Just three days after leaving hospital, Russian President Boris Yeltsin has greeted Chinese President Jiang Zemin in Beijing for an "informal" summit.

The visit is aimed at firming up support for Moscow's military campaign in Chechnya and at countering U-S global influence.

A pale Yeltsin, arm-in-arm with his wife Naina, leaned heavily on the rails of the stairs while leaving his plane, and looked unsteady again as he met the Chinese leader.

A frail-looking Boris Yeltsin arrived in Beijing on Thursday for what was being described as informal talks with the Chinese leadership.

In the latest ailment to beset the 68-year-old leader, Yeltsin was hospitalised with pneumonia for a week and only left the hospital on Monday.

Perhaps out of concern for the Russian leader's health, most of the meetings were to take place within the secluded grounds of the state guest house, rather than in the Communist Party's leadership compound.

Yeltsin and Jiang have met several times as relations between their countries have improved steadily in recent years.

Yeltsin's visit comes amid deteriorating relations between Moscow and Washington.

In Beijing, he is likely to find strong Chinese support to counter heavy U-S and European criticism of Russia's offensive in Chechnya, which western countries say is causing unnecessary civilian casualties.

The Chinese government, struggling with ethnic tensions along its borders, believes Moscow is entitled to handle Chechnya as it sees fit.

Both Russia and China are frustrated by what they see as U-S global domination since the end of the Cold War.

They also want an end to Western criticism of their internal policies.

China has become one of Russia's main trading partners and a leading customer for its struggling defense industries.

For Yeltsin, frequently sidelined by illness since his re-election in 1996, the trip also appears aimed at showing he is still in charge.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"Both sides expressed their determination to actively work against such threats as terrorism, religious extremism, separatism, cross-border crime, these are the threats of the twenty-first century, and Russian and China are going to actively cooperate to
make the appropriate response. In this regard, the Chinese side expressed their full understanding and approval of all the measures that are being taken by the Russian government."
SUPER CAPTION: Igor Ivanov, Russian Foreign Minister

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