Moscow: Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Tuesday underlined the Russian policy of supporting China on the
`sensitive` issue of Taiwan in a meeting with Chinese Vice
President Xi Jinping here.
"Russia is very careful about ties with China. We have
always supported China on the most sensitive issues, including
the Taiwan problem," Putin said during his meeting with Xi,
who is widely seen as President Hu Jintao`s successor.
Xi in turn praised Russia-Chinese relations as being
"at an unprecedentedly high level."
"It is very important to maintain the good state of
Russian-Chinese ties in the future," he said.
Putin`s support for China comes amid a simmering
dispute between Beijing and Washington over US arms sales to
Taiwan, which the Communist nation considers a rebel region to
be reunited with the mainland, the government-run RIA Novosti
noted.
Tension rose sharply after the United States announced
in January that it would sell USD 6.4 billion worth of arms to
Taiwan. China has hit back threatened to suspend military ties
with the US and impose sanctions against American arms
exporters.
The meeting with Xi, who is tipped to take up the top
job in Beijing in 2012, has acquired a special significance
amid speculation that Putin could return to the top Kremlin
job after 2012 presidential polls.
PTI
