At a meeting with the leadership of Russian regions and Chinese provinces, the Russian president noted that "leaders of regions must establish order first of all here, at home, instead of shifting the blame onto Chinese colleagues."
"Everybody is interested in problems being resolved in a civilized way on the basis of law and in the interests of people residing both sides of the border," said Mr. Putin.
He called on the leaders and heads of Russian regions and Chinese provinces to fight bureaucracy at the regional level.
"As regards bureaucracy, I hope high-ranking leaders from the two countries' government have heard the hint voiced here," said the president.
"But bureaucracy prospers not only at the national level, but at the regional level too, and there is much work to do for both Russia and China," said the president.
He expressed regret that coordination of some projects consumes great efforts and time.
"We want to put our cooperation onto such a level that no coordination will be needed. I hope this time will come," said Mr. Putin.
He added that Russian Railways' investment plans for 2005 included relevant resources to increase oil deliveries to China.
As regards another problem - the necessity to expand the capabilities of railroad transport in connection with the existing plans to deliver oil to China, this problem, in Mr. Putin's words, does exist.
The president said the Russian government would have to approve this investment program and expressed the hope that the Chinese government would join the realization of this program, which both sides are interested in.
The head of the Russian state noted that Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan were following the path of establishing a Common Economic Space (CES), which aims at elimination of barriers.
"We will try to establish unified principles of operation, including of railroad transport, communications, unified tariffs," said the president.
Mr. Putin promised to speak to Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev on Monday about problems existing in railway transportation of goods from China to Russia via Kazakhstan.
"On Monday I will have a meeting with President Nazarbayev, and we will discuss this topic with him," said the Russian president.
