May 24, 2008	Saturday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 18, 1429

BEIJING, May 23: Russia and China on Friday denounced US plans for a global missile defence shield and signed a billion-dollar nuclear contract as Russia’s new President Dmitry Medvedev made his diplomatic debut.

Medvedev was in Beijing on his first visit outside the former Soviet Union since he took over on May 7 from Vladimir Putin, a destination seen as highly symbolic at a time of tension between Moscow and the West.

President Hu Jintao joined Medvedev in denouncing US plans to build a missile defence shield in Poland and the Czech Republic, saying it “would not contribute to maintaining strategic balance and stability.”

In a joint statement that did not explicitly name the United States, the two leaders said the missile shield plan “hinders international arms control and non-proliferation efforts.”

The United States says the shield, which was approved by the Czech government on Wednesday, would defend against countries the West sees as threats such as Iran and North Korea. But Russia has been livid at what it sees as an incursion into its backyard.

Russia and China have already expressed concern over the missile shield being developed between Washington and Tokyo that began after North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile over Japan in 1998.

In his meeting with Hu, Medvedev told the Chinese side that it was “very important that there are no pauses in our relationship”. “Russia and China are strategic partners. You have rightly pointed out the meaning of my first foreign trip in my capacity,” he said.

Hu thanked Russia for sending medical personnel to help China after last week’s earthquake, which has left more than 80,000 people dead or missing. “I am convinced that this visit will give impetus to the development of a strategic partnership,” Hu said.

The two countries signed a one-billion dollar deal for the expansion of a uranium enrichment facility in China as well as the supply of Russian uranium, said Sergei Kiriyenko, head of the Russian nuclear agency Rosatom.

Russia has been competing against western nations and Japan as China tries to boost nuclear power and lessen its dependence on coal, which is blamed for China’s rising pollution.

China and Russia are veto-wielding permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, where they have been coordinating their positions on controversial issues such as the Iranian nuclear issue and Kosovan independence, which they both oppose.—AFP