(20 Feb 1997) Russian/Natural Sound
The Russian President Boris Yeltsin and former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev had warm words for Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping - measured in the context of Russian relations with China.
The Russian-Chinese relationship has undergone changes throughout the years with a gradual warming of relations.
Now Russia watches, waits, and hopes this will continue.
As the world mourns the death of Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, Russia will be closely watching the manoeuvres of Beijing's new political order.
Although for much of this century China and the U-S-S-R were socialist superpowers, relations were not always cordial.
When Mao Tse-Tung visited Moscow in the thirties the Soviets backed the establishment of his communist party prior to its victory over the nationalists in 1949.
In 1950 as Party Chairman he signed a friendship treaty burying old Soviet-Sino territorial animosities.
Nikita Khruschev's so-called "Secret Speech" to the 20th Party Congress in which he denounced Stalin and the excesses of communist policies had a negative impact on the Soviet Union's relations with Communist China.
The Chinese leaders took Khruschev's attack personally and distanced themselves from Moscow.
It took more than 30 years and a radical change in leadership in both countries to bring about rapprochement between the erstwhile allies.
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"Relations between the two countries were normalised only when Gorbachev came to power in the Soviet Union. We should give Gorbachev credit for striking a decisive course towards normalising relations with China.
SUPER CAPTION: Lev Delusin, China expert and former-Pravda correspondent in Beijing
As China launched its wide-reaching economic reforms under Deng Xiaoping, the Soviets were also in the midst of radical change and the two nations found common ground.
Mikhail Gorbachev once said that Deng's pragmatism overcame socialist dogma to build China into a modern state as well as improve its international standing.
The former Soviet leader underscored that point in speaking about Deng on Thursday.
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"I consider him a great man of our time who reversed the course of not only its domestic policies for the better, for the benefit of the people but also of the foreign policy, took a more responsible and collaborative approach, therefore for that reason we should be hugely indebted to him.
SUPER CAPTION: Mikhail Gorbachev, Former Soviet Leader
In his telegram of condolences, Russian President Boris Yeltsin said Deng had made a great contribution to removing the vestiges of the past from Russian-Chinese relations.
Yeltsin said the two countries had developed an equitable and trustful partnership, aimed at strategic co-operation in the 21st century.
The thaw in relations has also been visible in the frequent meetings between the countries' leadership.
Experts believe that Deng's hand picked successor, Jiang Zemin will continue along this path.
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Негізгі бет RUSSIA: PRESIDENT YELTSIN AND GORBACHEV PAY RESPECT TO DENG XIAOPING
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