In late December 1984 the Soviet First Deputy Prime Minister, Ivan Arkhipov, made a nine-day visit to the People's Republic of China. The two giants of the communist world have been at odds with one another over ideological differences for the last twenty-five years. For most of this time relations between the two countries have been so strained that there has been no dialogue worthy of the name between them. Mr Arkhipov was the most senior Russian leader to visit China since 1969.

Differences, both ideological and political, still divide the two neighbours. Moscow believes that recent economic reforms undertaken by China could undermine communism. The presence of Soviet troops in Afghanistan, and Vietnamese troops in Kampuchea, is a bone of contention as far as the Chinese are concerned. Added to this there are continuing and interminable border disputes along the massive common frontier.

Yet despite all these differences Russia and China have decided to put their political and ideological differences to one side and cooperate in other areas where they have common interests. In economic and technical fields, for instance, both countries have found that they have much to gain from closer ties. According to a Reuter report:

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"Both sides have a major interest in developing their economic relations, despite continuing big political differences The Soviet Union needs food from China to feed Siberia, while Beijing wants Soviet technical help and machinery."

Accordingly the two sides agreed to increase trade in 1985 to 1.8 billion dollars. They also signed a 1986-1990 trade agreement, and accords on economic, technical and scientific cooperation. Discussions between Arkhipov and Chinese leaders dwelt entirely on areas of mutual interest and accord. The Soviet Deputy P.M. appeared to steer clear of sensitive political issues which still divide Moscow and Beijing. He even showed "a keen interest in China's radical economic reforms, despite the Soviet regime's innate abhorrence of them.

Some disagreement is always inevitable between two parties or individuals in this world. But it is also inevitable that there must be some areas of agreement. This being the case, there is only one way to prosper and progress; that is, to ignore the matters that divide one from others ,and concentrate on cultivating areas of mutual concern.