Xi Jinping is expected to make one of his first foreign visits to Russia after becoming China’s president.
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi told reporters March 9 that the new president plans to visit Russia and the African nations of Tanzania, South Africa, and the Republic of the Congo.
Communist Party chief Xi is expected to be formally named president during China’s annual parliament session, which is currently under way in Beijing.
The Chinese foreign minister said China hopes to work with Russia to inject a new and strong impetus to the “strategic partnership” between the two neighboring countries.
In addition to having significant trade ties, China and Russia have stood together on several international issues, including opposition to foreign intervention in the Syrian war.