CHINA, Russia and three former Soviet Central Asian states signed a historic security treaty yesterday. They hailed the agreement as a milestone in maintaining peace in a former regional flashpoint.
The pact was signed by the Chinese President, Mr Jiang Zemin, President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan, President Askar Ayev of Kyrgyzstan, President Boris Yeltsin of Russia and President Emomali Rakhmonov of Tajikistan.
Asia's first accord of this kind will bind the five, nations to build up military confidence along the nearly 8,000 kilometres long (5,000 mile) former Sino-Soviet border, the scene of tension and armed clashes in the past. The measures sketched out in the treaty call for a withdrawal of military forces along a 100 kilometre (62 mile) band on each side of the frontier, which will be patrolled only by border guards.
Mr Jiang, in a brief statement after the five leaders clinked champagne glasses, hailed the 16 article agreement as a "good example" for Asia Pacific nations in developing good neighbourly and co operative ties.
Mr Yeltsin called it a "memorable day and expressed confidence that this "unique. . . epoch making accord was just the start of strengthening military co operation along the border. In addition to creating a demilitarised zone, the accord also provides for annual exchanges of data on military activities in areas near the border, such as troop exercises or deployments.
Warning that the world was "not tranquil" despite the end of the Cold War, Mr Jiang said peace and security remained two major issues facing the peoples of various countries. The agreement "embodies the firm will of the Chinese government and leaders in striving for peace", he said.
Mr Yeltsin echoed Mr Jiang's words, saying other nations could rise the regional agreement as a model of how to resolve "complex problems. . . I am convinced that we will not stop here."
The Soviet union normalised ties with China in 1989. The two communist rivals had faced off several times during the previous 30 years over their joint border.
The security treaty's signing comes one day after Mr Yeltsin and Mr Jiang signed in Beijing lengthy political declaration forging a long term "strategic partnership" between their nations which, they said, laid the foundation for a new world order.
The two countries also signed 14 other agreements on Thursday, strengthening co operation mainly in the economic sphere, as well as the military, political science and technology, environmental and other areas.
Analysts have interpreted the closer Sino Russian relations as signalling the two countries dissatisfaction with, their respective ties with Washington and with US domination of world affairs.