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Moscow expects Chinese president's visit nex year — Putin

The Russian leader marked "very good, businesslike relations" with Xi Jinping
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan
© AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev

MOSCOW, November 8. /TASS/. Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected in Moscow for an official visit in 2017, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday.

At a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Putin asked him "to convey warmest wishes to the president of the People’s Republic of China and remind him that we are waiting for him in Moscow for a traditional official visit," he added.

The Russian leader marked "very good, businesslike relations with our friend Xi Jinping". "I am very pleased that our contacts continue both at the working and summit levels," he told Li Keqiang.

Putin said Russia and China have recently marked anniversary of a major treaty on friendship. "An efficient mechanism of our bilateral cooperation has been formed over this time. In the first place, this is of course the mechanism in the sphere of activity and responsibility of the governments of our states," the Russian president noted.

"I am very glad, as I know that your negotiations with the prime minister of the Russian Federation were productive," Putin added, referring to a regular, 21st meeting of the Russian and Chinese prime ministers on Monday.

Li Keqiang, for his part, also conveyed greetings from the Chinese president to President Putin, stressing that Russia and China "are major neighbours and strategic partners". "I believe that our cooperation not only benefits our peoples, but it also contributes to ensuring peace and stability in the region and in the world on the whole," the Chinese premier said.

Focusing on his talks with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Li Keqiang said they were "very productive for practical cooperation and unveiled new spheres of cooperation".