Beijing: China has backed Russia's accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and said bilateral economic co-operation was inevitable for their sustainable development as Moscow called for opening up of new mutually beneficial areas in sectors like nuclear energy and space technology.

"The Chinese side expresses its support for Russia's accession to the WTO, holding that the accession will make the WTO an international organisation with greater broadness," according to the Sino-Russian joint statement signed by Chinese President Jiang Zemin and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Premier Zhu Rongji said China had a vast market, numerous competitive industries, advanced expertise and an increasing investment capability while Russia has abundant natural resources, adequate industrial power, well-grounded scientific and technological base and highly competent human resources.

"The two economies were mutually compatible so economic and trade co-operation was the inevitable choice for their sustainable development," Zhu told Putin during a meeting.

Putin said the two economies complimented each other and apart from traditional co- operation areas such as energy, Russia and China could open up new mutually beneficial areas, including nuclear energy, space technology and other high- technology fields.

The joint statement also highlighted importance of energy co-operation with stress on timely completion of Sino-Russia crude oil and natural gas pipeline cooperation projects. The two sides agreed to co-ordinate the implementation of energy projects with promising prospect.

PTI