Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Russia carries profound historic significance and strategic value, said Dmitry Novikov, first deputy chairman of Russia's State Duma Committee on International Affairs.
President Xi is paying a state visit to Russia from Wednesday to Saturday at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
During the visit, Xi will also attend the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War.
In an interview with China Media Group, Novikov said that Xi's visit bears great significance under the rapidly changing global situation.
"First of all, this visit is a landmark event in world politics and in world history. For the peoples of the Soviet Union and China—who played a decisive role in defeating Nazi Germany and Japanese militarism during the Second World War—President Xi's visit to Moscow on this day which is so important to us speaks for itself. It is routine for the leaders of Russia and China to exchange views on major international issues, and such close communication is especially necessary against the backdrop of today’s rapidly changing global situation," he said.
Novikov also said that the meeting between the two heads of state would further drive cooperation between the two countries.
"Our economic cooperation is flourishing, bilateral trade keeps reaching new highs, political interaction is growing still closer, and cultural and sporting exchanges are becoming ever more frequent. The two heads of state have been following up the implementation of the agreements already reached, and this visit will further drive deeper cooperation and the signing of new deals. I believe the visit is of great significance both for the further strengthening of our bilateral relationship and for the global political landscape," Novikov said.
Xi's visit carries historic significance, strategic value: Russian official
