Russia and China condemn U.S. missile shield plan

By Oleg Shchedrov

BEIJING (Reuters) - China and Russia on Friday condemned U.S. plans to set up a missile defense system that would include bases in eastern Europe viewed by Moscow as a threat.

"Both sides believe that creating a global missile defense system, including deploying such systems in certain regions of the world, or plans for such cooperation, do not help support strategic balance and stability, and harm international efforts to control arms and the non-proliferation process," Russia and China said in a joint statement.

"It harms the strengthening of trust between states and regional stability. In this respect (Russia and China) express their concern," it said.

The statement was signed in Beijing by Chinese President Hu Jintao and Dmitry Medvedev, visiting China on his first foreign trip since becoming Russian president this month.

Washington says its plans to deploy parts of its missile shield in eastern Europe are intended to counter any missile attack by "rogue" states such as Iran. But they have unnerved Moscow, which sees the project as a threat to its own security.

Washington played down the significance of Chinese-Russian joint statement on Friday.

"I think it's just a continuation of the kinds of concerns they've raised in the past," a State Department spokesman said.

He noted that U.S.-Russian talks on the missile shield would continue.