Russian PM to visit China next week

BEIJING -- Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev will pay an official visit to China from Oct 22 to 23 as a guest of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying announced on Monday.

During Medvedev's stay in Beijing, he and Li will co-chair the 18th regular meeting between the Chinese and Russian heads of government. Medvedev will also meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Hua told a regular news briefing.

The regular meeting mechanism, launched in 1996, has become an important platform to outline cooperation between the two countries.

"As the first meeting between the Chinese and Russian premiers since China's new government took office, the upcoming meeting is significant in deepening bilateral ties," Hua said.

China and Russia are each other's most important strategic partner of coordination. President Xi's successful state visit to Russia in March has produced important consensus for bilateral cooperation, and this is being implemented by the two sides, she said.

China-Russia relations are now at a new starting point, Hua told the news briefing, expressing hope that Medvedev's visit can further explore the huge potential for cooperation and contribute to mutual economic development.

Apart from Beijing, Medvedev will also visit Anhui Province, Hua said.