Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (R) meets his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at the Kremlin, Moscow, on March 22/AFP
The two leaders also exchanged views on major regional and world issues.
Xi arrived in Moscow Friday noon for a state visit, the first leg of his first trip abroad after he was elected president of China last week. Both China and Russia have attached great importance to Xi’s current visit.
Talking over phone with Putin upon his election as China’s new president on March 14, Xi said that he was looking forward to meeting with Putin during his visit to Russia and exchanging views with him on ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation as well as on major regional and international affairs.
Xi also said he believed his visit to Russia would inject new vigor into the development of China-Russia relations.
Putin said he believed the visit would further promote bilateral cooperation and humanistic exchanges as well as strengthen bilateral ties.
Before the talks, Xi attended a welcoming ceremony hosted by Putin in his honor.
Later in the day, Xi and Putin attended the opening ceremony of the “Tourism Year of China” in Russia.
The “China-Russia Tourism Year,” which began last year with the “Tourism Year of Russia” in China, is the third theme year following the “China-Russia National Year” and the “China-Russia Year of Language” held in recent years.
During his visit, Xi also met Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and other Russian leaders.
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