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China’s leader to Russia in first overseas trip
March 9, 2013, 10:34 am

Xi Jinping will seek to boost a strategic partnership with Vladimir Putin, his Russian counterpart [Getty Images]

Xi Jinping will seek to boost a strategic partnership with Vladimir Putin, his Russian counterpart [Getty Images]

China’s new president is expected to visit Russia in his first official overseas trip, as Beijing seeks to boost strategic partnership with Moscow, Chinese foreign minister Yang Jiechi said on Saturday.

“China and Russia are each other’s biggest neighbours and see each other as a significant opportunity for development and a priority partner for cooperation,” Xinhua quoted Yang as saying at the press conference held on the sidelines of the annual parliamentary session.

Commenting on the forthcoming visit, Yang said China hopes to “inject new and strong impetus to the growth of the comprehensive strategic partnership” with Russia.

China and Russia have expanded their bilateral economic and security cooperation and have pursued parallel policies regarding many global diplomatic issues, including Syria.

Xi Jinping, who was named head of China’s ruling Communist Party in November, is due to formally take over from Hu Jintao as national leader next week.

China’s new leader is also expected to visit Tanzania, South Africa and the Republic of Congo and attend the fifth leaders’ summit of BRICS countries, which will be held in Durban, South Africa, on March 26-27.

Ria Novosti and Xinhua