Putin, Jiang say no to U.S. NMD

Russian president Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Jiang Jemin have expressed their opposition to the U.S. National Missile Defense System (NMD) plan and called on the international community to unite to stop the project.

After a three-hour summit meeting, the two leaders signed a joint declaration. It stated that the international community should closely monitor nations constructing missile defense systems, which could tilt the global strategic balance, and that measures should be taken to stop the NMD.

Both leaders also expressed their opposition to the U.S. TMD plans for the Northeast Asian region and the amendment of the 1972 ABM treaty between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R.

The leaders` appeals regarding the NMD are likely to make this issue the focus of heated discussions at the G8 summit meeting to be held in Okinawa from the 21st.

The declaration also stated that the NMD plan is designed to give the U.S. a military and security advantage, and called for the U.S. to be held responsible for any instability which may arise from the push for the NMD.

It added that the amendment of the ABM treaty may in fact launch a military spending race and warned that including Taiwan in any missile defense system would threaten regional stability.

President Putin expressed his desire to further improve the friendly relations between the two nations and to promote long-term development.The two leaders were also believed to have discussed the situation on the Korean peninsula, bilateral trade relations and military issues.

President Putin will visit North Korea on the 19th to hold summit talks with Kim Jong Il on the Korean peninsula.