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Wu Bangguo (1st R), chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, is greeted by Ivan Melnikov, vice president of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, upon his arrival in Moscow, capital of Russia, Sept. 14, 2011. China's top legislator Wu Bangguo arrived here on Wednesday for an official goodwill visit. Wu will also attend the fifth meeting of the China-Russia parliamentary cooperation committee, the highest-level regular meeting mechanism between China's top legislature and a foreign parliament. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) |
China's top legislator, Wu Bangguo, arrived here Wednesday for an official goodwill visit as the two countries seek deeper cooperation and closer ties.
During the four-day visit, his fourth to Russia as Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), Wu is expected to meet Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
Wu will also attend the fifth meeting of the China-Russia parliamentary cooperation committee, the highest-level regular meeting mechanism between China's top legislature and a foreign parliament.
The parliamentary meeting will be co-chaired by Wu, Chairman Boris Gryzlov of the Russian State Duma, and Acting Speaker Alexander Torshin, of the Russian Federation Council.
In a written speech delivered upon his arrival, Wu said the China-Russia strategic cooperative partnership had made unprecedented progress since the two countries signed the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation 10 years ago.
China was ready to make joint efforts with Russia to further enhance political trust and friendship, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and promote common development, he said, adding that, by doing so, the two sides would lift bilateral ties to a new height and bring more benefits to their peoples.
China and Russia have maintained regular high-level exchanges and established cooperation mechanisms between various government departments in recent years.
Wu's visit comes three months after Chinese President Hu Jintao traveled to Moscow to mark the 10th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation.
The Chinese president and Russian leaders made a blueprint for developing the relationship of the two countries in the next decade, pledging to build a comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation.
Besides parliamentary exchanges, economic and trade issues are also on Wu's agenda in his meeting with Russian leaders.
China-Russia trade has increased from some 8 billion U.S. dollars in 2000 to nearly 60 billion in 2010. The two countries have vowed to grow that to 100 billion by 2015 and 200 billion by 2020.
Russia is the first leg of Wu's four-nation Eurasian tour, which will also take him to Belarus, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.