Russia welcomes further reductions in strategic nuclear weapons because they will relieve the country's financial burden. Russia has supported non-proliferation and the nuclear test ban since the 1990s. The former Soviet Union conducted its last nuclear test on October 24, 1990. It then decided on January 12, 1991, to suspend all nuclear tests during the first four months that year, and closed a nuclear testing site in Kazakhstan. Since Russia inherited the Soviet Union's extensive experience with nuclear tests, it is definitely a member of the world's first-class nuclear power club. But economic difficulties have hindered Russia from renewing its nuclear technologies and upgrading its nuclear strength on a large scale. By banning nuclear tests, Russian hopes to promote its security cooperation with the United States and freeze all nuclear-armed countries' nuclear arms development, so as to maintain its position on nuclear strength.

The Russian State Duma approved START II on April 14, 2000, with a supplementary condition that the United States not deploy its National Missile Defense, which Russia hoped to use as a bargaining chip in future negotiations. Putin also warned at the time that Russia would not disassemble or destroy any nuclear weapon before the 2007 deadline unless the U.S. side also fulfilled its tasks as outlined in the treaty. He also stressed that if the U.S. side did not obey the 1972 NPT, Russia would quit all agreements related to nuclear disarmament and traditional weapons disarmament.

According to U.S. media, Obama didn't realize reconciliation of the U.S.-Russian relationship. Both sides recognize that the two countries need to press the "reset button" in their relations. But the two sides will sign a new agreement on cutting strategic nuclear weapons. Both of them consider the new agreement to be a reflection of a "nuclear-free" world, because such an agreement not only represents the convergence of their common interests, but is also a necessary step to rebuild their images in the world. If the two biggest nuclear giants can set a good sample and reach an agreement on nuclear arms reduction, more nuclear countries will follow suit. So the goal of building a "nuclear-free" world is still feasible.

Today's world situation is quite different from the old one. When it comes to security, especially among major powers, countries are more mutually dependent than ever. Building an international order for the 21st century requires both an international mechanism based on principles of international law, and every country's rational security and diplomatic activities. Therefore, despite the work still left to be done, Obama's Russia visit should be applauded.

The author is a professor of Russian studies at China Foreign Affairs University