Beijing, Nov 24: Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit China from December 1 to three for a summit with his Chinese counterpart Jiang Zemin and define plans for strengthening their strategic relations, the state media reported today. The top leaders of the two countries will exchange views on major issues on bilateral relations, sum up experience in recent years and define strategic plans for future development of the ties, Xinhua news agency quoted Chinese foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan as saying.

Tang said Putin will visit China from December 1 to 3 at the invitation of Chinese president Jiang Zemin. Moscow has already said that Putin will visit India from December 3. Tang, currently in Moscow, described Putin's upcoming visit as a "big event" in Chinese-Russian relations this year.

He said he believed the summit would be a great success and inject new vigour to the bilateral relations of the two countries. Russian foreign minister igor ivanov said the principle of "developing russian-chinese friendship for generations" was repeatedly stressed by putin and jiang and should be firmly adhered to.

Putin is expected to meet with Chinese Vice President Hu Jintao who was recently elected as the general secretary of China's Ruling Communist Party. Hu is scheduled to succeed Jiang as Chinese President in March next year.

Bureau Report