Updated 8:36 AM ET August 25, 1999 By MARINA KOZLOVA

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, Aug. 25 (UPI) Russian President Boris Yeltsin and his Chinese counterpart Jiang Zemin held one-on-one talks in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek, with Yeltsin calling for closer ties between the giant neighbors to build a "multi-polar" world to counterbalance the United States as the sole remaining superpower.

Yeltsin, looking fit after recent bouts of illness, gave Jiang a long bearhug and the two leaders then smiled and shook hands for the cameras before settling down for a long discussion of a range of issues.

Sergei Prikhodko, the Kremlin deputy chief of staff, told reporters Yeltsin and Jiang discussed the "strategic bilateral partnership" between Russia and China, the demarcation of the Russian-Chinese border, anti-crime measures being taken by both countries, and the improvement of economic ties.

Prikhodko indicated to a reporter for Russia's Interfax news agency that Yeltsin would raise U.S. moves to amend the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, which Moscow believes may threaten its security by shifting the strategic balance between Russia and the United States.

Aides said military cooperation between Russia and China would also be on the agenda.

After the talks, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov told reporters the Sino-Russian summit had been held "in a very warm, friendly atmosphere."

Ivanov said the two countries' ties "have reached a peak that represents the interests of both nations, as well as the interests of regional and international stability."

Yeltsin and Jiang, still fuming at the U.S.-led NATO bombardment of Yugoslavia over the Kosovo crisis, both called for a "multi-polar world" to stabilize the "tense international situation."

Yeltsin said, "Some nations are trying to build a world order, ignoring the fact that the world is multi-polar," while Jiang echoed his words, calling the trend to build a multi-polar world "irreversible."

Ivanov was grilled by reporters on Yeltsin's Tuesday remark, when he said he "is ready to fight, especially with westernizers."

The Russian foreign minister said the remark could be interpreted in the light of the recent tension in international affairs caused by actions of certain states, and the need to counterbalance the situation by creating a multi-polar world.

Ivanov said: "An active struggle for the future world order, for the creation of a multi-polar world that meets the interests of all states is going on now. Attempts have been made to impose a one-polar world, but Russia has come out and will come out against it in the future."

Commenting on Yeltsin's apparent perkiness, his spokesman Dmitry Yakushkin said, "The president is full of strength and vigor, he has great plans."

Yeltsin's wife Naina, asked by reporters whether she was against her husband making the long flight to Kyrgyzstan, laughed and replied, "How could I talk him out of this trip."

The Sino-Russian summit took place within the framework of a summit of the Shanghai Five, which also includes the leaders of the Central Asian states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

The five presidents signed a joint agreement to fight crime and drug trafficking.

Yeltsin told the gathered leaders Russia has a "strategic interest in maintaining stability in Asia through the development of good neighborly ties."

All five countries have agreed to decrease troop presence on each others' borders, and to pull troops back from the immediate border zones.

Kyrgyzstan President Askar Akayev, who hosted the summit, has been embarrassed by a rebel incursion in the south of the country, where 200 militants crossed from Tajikistan, seizing territory and taking seven hostages, including four Japanese geologists.

But the fighting in the south failed to mar an otherwise picture- perfect image of unity among the Asian leaders.

-- Server too busy (too@muchof the time.org), August 25, 1999

Answers

We can thank our 'beloved'leader for this exchange.The work that began with Nixon/Kissinger and carried through the Reagan-Bush era has been "erased" in an instant by our New World Order administraion. It makes me wonder what Clinton really has in mind...what are his long-term goals? Peace and treaties do not appear to be important at this juncture......responses welcomed!

Keepon

-- Keepon (vacillating@hourly.edu), August 25, 1999.

Although Clinton may have taken his personal perverse proclivities to new levels of degradation, I do not believe he is so far removed from Nixon, Reagan and Bush as most Republicans would like to believe.

-- Mumsie (Shezdremn@aol.com), August 25, 1999.