China and Russia signed a $ 1 billion nuclear co-operation deal on Friday and stood together in firm opposition to US missile defense plans during new Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s first overseas trip.
The Chinese President Hu Jintao also thanked Russia for offering speedy aid after last week’s powerful earthqualke in Central China, which claimed more than 80,000 lives.
The signing of the nuclear deal between the two countries was part of the growing relations between the countries forged as a counterbalance to American dominance.
The nuclear deal strengthens Russia’s role as a supplier to China’s fast growing nuclear power industry and calls for Russia to build a $ 500 million nuclear fuel enrichment plant and supply semi-enriched uranium worth at least $ 500 million.
Russia is looking to China as an important market for civilian nuclear technology as Beijing builds more nuclear power plants in an effort to curb rapid growth in use of fossil fuels.
The two leaders also signed a joint statement saying a US plan to create and deploy a global missile defense system, ‘does not help to maintain strategic balance and stability or strengthen international efforts to control non-proliferation.’