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            "We expect that [Russian] President-elect Medvedev will visit China soon. It is expected that a meeting between the two leaders will take place at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and an unofficial summit of Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation," the Chinese minister said.

            The SCO summit is expected to take place in summer 2008 in Dushanbe.

            Yang congratulated Medvedev on his election to office and expressed "gratitude to Russian President Vladimir Putin for his outstanding contribution to the development of Sino-Russian relations."

            Speaking about Russian-Chinese contacts at a high level, the minister said that "it is Russia’s turn to host a regular meeting of prime ministers this year."

            "Primarily, we should maintain and strengthen contacts at a high level, deepen mutual trust in the political arena, and increase mutual support in all areas regarding the crucial interests of each country," Yang said.

            "A peaceful idea: ‘Always friends and never foes’ was established in our relationship. We achieved important results in various areas of cooperation, and this brought many advantages. The successful Year of Russia in China Year of China in Russia to a large extent strengthened mutual understating and friendship between our peoples and contributed to the development of practical cooperation," Yang said.

            Sino-Russian trade and economic relations have been developing dynamically as well, the minister said. "According to statistical data by the Chinese customs agency, [bilateral] trade reached $48.17 billion in 2007, showing a 44.3% increase compared to the previous year. This was a record figure since 1993. Remarkably, increasing volumes of trade are accompanied by improving trade structures," the Chinese foreign minister said, adding that investments in Sino-Chinese relations amounted to $2 billion.

            "The Chinese side does not pursue a positive balance of trade with Russia. On the contrary, we are ready to assist a balanced development of bilateral trade together with the Russian side, in particular, thanks to accelerating the implementation of oil and gas pipeline projects, developing steady trade in the energy area and encouraging increased imports of engineering and hi-tech products from Russia," Yang said.

            Commenting on the Beijing Olympics, the minister has expressed the strong hope that the issue of the Olympic Games in China will not be politicized.

            "We resolutely object interference in our domestic affairs and attempts to hinder the Olympic Games due to political reasons under the pretext of the protection of human rights, because such actions, in our opinion, contradict the expectations of the international community, disturb the spirit of the Olympic movement, which is the opposite to politicizing sports," Yang said.

            China welcomes "every benevolent and constructive remark and proposal," the minister said.

            The politicization of the Olympic movement does not correspond with interests of its members, he said.

            "We call on the international community to exercise a balanced and responsible approach to the issue. We believe that the Beijing Olympics will be held successfully with the support of all countries and with their participation," Yang said.

            The Chinese foreign minister also dismissed accusations that human rights are broken in China.

            "The Chinese Constitution guarantees basic human rights, the freedom of speech and conscience to its citizens," Yang said.

            "There are always problems, and sometimes challenges, in the human rights area in such country as China, where 1.3 billion people live," he added.

            "In any case the Chinese government, irregardless of the Olympic Games, has always paid much attention to the continuous improvement of the human rights situation in the country," the minister said.

            As for the Taiwan issue, the minister said that China hoped that the United States and Japan will not support the independence of Taiwan, as these countries "have repeatedly confirmed their adherence to the policy of One China.

            "We hope that U.S. and Japan will fulfill their promise in a responsible manner, proceeding from interests of guaranteeing peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the development of Sino-U.S. and Sino-Japanese relations," the Chinese foreign minister said.

            Prospects for Sino-U.S. cooperation depend on Washington’s position on the issue, the minister said.

            "Prospects of sound and stable development of Sino-U.S. relations depend on whether we are able to settle the issue in a appropriate manner with the respect to the principle of One China," Yang said.

            The present-day situation surrounding the Taiwan Strait is very complicated and sensitive, the minister said.

            "Despite of the protest of the international community, Chen Shui-bian’s authorities promote separatist campaigns, including the imposition of a so-called referendum on Taiwan’s entry to the UN, thus posing a serious threat to peace and stability of the Strait and the Asian-Pacific region," Yang said.

            Speaking on Kosovo problem, the Chinese minister has called on the parties to the Kosovo conflict to resolve the issue of the region’s international legal status.

            "Kosovo’s unilateral actions could result in many consequences and have a serious and rather negative influence on peace and stability in the Balkans, as well as on the possibility to form a multiethnic society in Kosovo, which makes China seriously concerned," he said.

            "The resolution of the Kosovo issue effects peace and stability in the Balkans, as well as basic principles of international relations, and the authority and the role of the UN Security Council," Yang said.

            "We have always thought that the search for an option acceptable for both Serbia and Kosovo through talks is the best way to resolve the Kosovo issue. We call on Serbia and Kosovo to search for ways to resolve the issue in a fitting manner, within the framework of international law. The international community should create favorable conditions for this," the Chinese foreign minister said.

            Speaking about other topics on the international agenda, in particular Iran, the minister said, "China speaks for the protection of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and the peaceful resolution of the issue through talks. We are not interested in a new point of instability in the Middle East region," Yang said.

            "The issue cannot be resolved by sanctions only," the minister said.

            "The recently adopted 1803 resolution on the Iranian nuclear program does not aim to punish Iran. It is an attempt to resume the talks and to activate a new round of diplomatic effort," he said.

            Commenting on the North Korean nuclear program, the Chinese foreign minister stressed the importance of the six-nation talks.

            "The Chinese side hopes that participants of the talks, maintaining sincerity, patience and showing wisdom, will make active moves and will achieve by joint effort the comprehensive and balanced implementation of reached agreements and the gradual implementation of tasks provided by a joint declaration, and stimulate the continuous development of six-nation talks," Yang said.

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