Chinese president reaches Moscow for first state visit

Big News Network (IANS)
Friday 22nd March, 2013

China’s new President Xi Jinping arrived in the Russian capital Friday for a state visit, his first foreign trip after assuming office last week.

In a written statement issued at the airport upon arrival, Xi said China and Russia were each other’s largest neighbours, and were both major political, economic, technological, cultural and military powers in the world, Xinhua reported.

He said the two countries were also major emerging markets and important powers to safeguard world peace, security and stability.

Developing bilateral relations would be a priority for China’s foreign policy, Xi said.

During his visit, Xi will hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the development of the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and major regional and world issues.

Xi will also meet Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and other leaders.

In 2012, bilateral trade reached a record high of $88 billion, an increase of 11 percent over the previous year.

The two countries are working to boost bilateral trade, with the goal of reaching $100 billion by 2015 and $200 billion by 2020.

After the Russia trip, Xi will fly to Africa for state visits to Tanzania, South Africa, and the Republic of the Congo.

In South Africa, Xi will attend the fifth BRICS summit in Durban March 26-27.

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