BEIJING — Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday he is ready to cooperate more with NATO if it focuses on combating terrorism but that Russia also is prepared to act alone to defend its interests.
Putin, wrapping up a two-day visit to China, said the NATO alliance created after World War II to counter the Soviet Union could be regarded by Moscow as a key partner if it shifts its emphasis to fighting terrorism and other threats to global security.
"If this transformation really takes place, we may broaden our cooperation with NATO," he said, answering a question from the audience after a speech at prestigious Peking University, where he addressed students and Chinese alumni of Russian and Soviet universities.
Putin said China and Russia have a special relationship but that the Kremlin is pursuing friendly ties worldwide.
He said that while the United States is one of Russia's most important partners in trade and the fight against terrorism, "I must say that our positions on key international questions do not always coincide."
"On those questions, we will defend our interests," he said, without giving details.
In a joint declaration they signed Monday, Putin and Chinese President Jiang Zemin called for diplomatic solutions to two issues that Washington says threaten global security — Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and North Korea's nuclear weapons program.
Putin repeated his government's opposition to the expansion of NATO into the Baltic region. Former Soviet republics Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania were invited last month to become alliance members.
"The mechanical expansion of NATO does not enhance international security," the Russian leader said.
Putin left Beijing for India on Tuesday afternoon after a visit to the Great Wall.
Jiang joined Putin at the university, telling the audience that Russia and China are "good neighbors, good partners and good friends."
The declaration Monday called for a "multipolar world" — a phrase used by both governments to express dissatisfaction with U.S. global dominance.
Moscow and Beijing have tried to restrain U.S. dominance by insisting the United Nations must have the last word in international affairs.
"In resolving crisis situations, (we must) give priority to political methods within the framework of the U.N. Security Council," Putin said Tuesday.
"A scornful attitude to international treaties and agreements is absolutely unacceptable, just as the practice of double standards and attempts at unilateral solutions are unacceptable — and here our foreign policy approaches and priorities absolutely coincide," he said.
In Monday's declaration Putin and Jiang also pledged mutual backing for China's struggle against separatists in its Muslim northwest and Russia's war in Chechnya.
"Today Russia and China have an important common task: the struggle against extremism and separatism. We must prevent regional conflicts and global crimes," Putin said in his speech.
Putin, who presented the university with a book in Russian by Jiang about socialism in China, received a warm welcome.
"Putin has a lot of vigor. I really admire him," said 18-year-old Zhang Wei. "He answered the questions very well and seemed knowledgeable."
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao called Putin's visit a "crowning success," saying that "new momentum was added to the development of bilateral ties."
He said the growing ties between Russia and China do not threaten other countries. "No one should have any fears or anxieties about the development of China-Russia relations," Liu said.