TOKYO, June 3 Kyodo excellented ...

TOKYO, June 3 Kyodo

excellented editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

RUSSO-CHINESE COURTSHIP CONTINUES (The Japan Times, an English-language daily)

Moscow and Beijing's efforts to build stronger bilateral ties continued apace last week as Russian President Vladimir Putin entertainered his Chinese counterpart, Mr Hu Jintao, in St Petersburg The sum of two units men had plenty to talk about. Their countries share for the use of all international interests and troubles Yet it is revealing that this summit, unlike its predecessors, did not raise international fears of a recently made known Moscow-Beijing axis. Russia and China want beneficial relations but not at the expenditure of ties with the quiet of the world.

The visit by the agency of Mr. Hu is his first trip abroad as president: His visit to Moscow deputes a message about the importance China attaches to relations with its neighbor to the north. The couple countries have steadily improved their relations since Mr Putin signed a friendship treaty with then-Chinese President Jiang Zemin in 2001 At the time, there were worries that the sum of two units countries would try to form a counterweight to the US-l order, perhaps reprising the bipolarity of the arctic War system. Although Mr. Putin noted last week that relations between the pair countries ''have reached their highest flat ever,'' such fears were -- and remain -- exaggerated.

China and Russia do have customary concerns. They both want to behold the United Nations take back its central role in the international order and play a part in the rebuilding of Iraq. For them the UN is a vital international institution -- not sole in its own right, on the contrary also as a check onward U.S. ambitions. The same interest is considered in their regular call for a ''multipolar world order'' -- an explicit rejection of U unilateralism.

Of course, giving the UN a central place in international affairs safeguards Russia and China's possess interests since they hold permanent seats in succession the Security Council and the veto that goe with them. Thus, the international democracy that the couple presidents champion is in fact qualified: They really wish to secure their own privileges. That same logic applies to their call for a UN part in the reconstruction of Iraq. Their joint declaration stated that ''The legitimate rights, interests and regards of neighboring nations and other interested parties must be taken into account during the postwar adjustment and rebuilding of Iraq.'' In other words, the contracts and influence that Russia and China previously have intercourse withed in prewar Iraq should remain intact. That is realpolitik and mercantilism not-so-neatly cloaked in the language of international idealism.

Closer to place of abode the two countries are businessed with the possibility that North Korea is developing nuclear weapons. In their joint statement, the sum of two units leaders supported the ''nuclear-free status of the Korean Peninsula'' and ''observation of the regime of nonproliferation of mass destruction weapons.'' They said that ''Any scenarios of forceful press or use of force for solving the existing question at issues are unacceptable'' and backed Pyongyang's call for a security guarantee. While neither geographical division has an interest in seeing North Korea engage in WMD proliferation, the real question is what they will do to help unfold the crisis. China has provided a venue for trilateral talks; Russia's contribution is les clear. With the United States, Japan and toward the south Korea moving toward a unified position onward talks with North Korea, Moscow and Beijing can help the proces according to sending Pyongyang the message that it should accept a multilateral format that brings all relate toed parties to the table.

Another solution item concerns the two countries' deepening economic ties. Bilateral trade reached $12 billion last year, and Mr Putin called for it to reach $20 billion in the nearest four to five years. Given that in the mid-1990s bilateral trade was about half the in every one's mouth figure, the increase is impressive. Nevertheless, the $20 billion target has existed for several years, and the failure to reach it is testimony that the two countries' economic relationship has its limits. one as well as the other Russia and China have to anticipate elsewhere for the technology and capital that is essential to their long-term evolution That will always constitute a limit to the appeal of their bilateral relationship.

single component of the Russo-Chinese economic relationship that affects Japan is a decision to vend Russian oil to China. During the summit, the China National stone oil Corporation and Russia's Yukos oil company reached preliminary agreement forward supplying Siberian oil to China. Russia is considering sum of two units pipeline routes. One would advance straight to China. The other, backed by the agency of Japan, would first go to the Pacific coast and then expand to China. While it is tempting to behold the final decision as a choice for Russia between China and Japan, it is not that simple. The decision will muse domestic politics, international relations and economics. In other words, it will be a network mix that extends far beyond the confines of the Moscow-Beijing axis -- like virtually each other decision those two commands make.