Li Keqiang's Russia visit to cement ties
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E-mail Xinhua, April 24, 2012
Vice Premier Li Keqiang will make an official visit to Russia from April 26 to 30, Deputy Foreign Minister Cheng Guoping announced on Monday.
It will be the first visit by a Chinese leader to Russia after Russia's presidential election in March, said Cheng, adding the visit has great significance in comprehensively deepening bilateral ties under the new circumstances.
According to Cheng, Li will meet with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister and President-elect Vladimir Putin, Chairman of Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko, and Chairman of State Duma Sergei Naryshkin.
Li will also have extensive contact with Russian people from various circles, and will make an address at Moscow State University and attend a meeting on bilateral trade and investment.
Li will also visit Russia's Kazan city and meet local leaders of the Volga Federal District.
Cheng said Li's visit aims to enhance mutual understanding, increase mutual trust and promote cooperation with Russia.
China expects four major achievements from this visit, he said, noting the first is to promote the implementation of the plan for development of China-Russia ties in the next 10 years.
China hopes to increase strategic and political mutual trust, beef up mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests as well as each other's development path, according to the deputy foreign minister.
The visit is intended to advance mutually beneficial cooperation in areas including trade, investment, high technology and large strategic projects, he added.
It is also hoped that China can exchange views with Russia on preparation for the Beijing Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in June and further enhance bilateral strategic coordination in international affairs.
Bilateral trade volume between China and Russia reached about 80 billion U.S. dollars in 2011, showing a 42.7-percent-year-on-year rise.
