Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow on Wednesday to begin a four-day state visit to Russia and attend the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Xi's plane was escorted to the Russian capital by fighter jets sent by the Russian Air Force after entering the country's airspace.
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Xi arrives in Moscow to begin state visit, attend Victory Day celebrations
Xi arrives in Moscow to begin state visit, attend Victory Day celebrations
Xi arrives in Moscow to begin state visit, attend Victory Day celebrations
Xi arrives in Moscow to begin state visit, attend Victory Day celebrations
Upon his arrival at the Moscow Vnukovo Airport, Xi was greeted by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova and other senior government officials.
The Russian side held a welcome ceremony at the airport, which saw a military band play the national anthems of both China and Russia before Xi reviewed the guard of honor and watched a march-past.
Xi delivered a written statement upon his arrival, in which he extended sincere greetings and best wishes to the Russian government and people on behalf of the Chinese government and people.
Xi said China and Russia are good neighbors that cannot be moved away, true friends who share weal and woe, and good partners of mutual achievement.
The two sides have found a right path of state-to-state interactions between neighboring major countries, and have forged a spirit of strategic coordination for a new era, which features permanent good-neighborly friendship, comprehensive strategic coordination and mutually beneficial cooperation, he said.
The independent, mature and resilient bilateral relationship, Xi said, not only brings great benefits to the two peoples, but also makes important contributions to maintaining global strategic stability and promoting an equal and orderly multipolar world.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, he noted.
China and Russia, both major countries of the world and permanent members of the UN Security Council, will join hands to safeguard the victorious outcome of World War II, firmly safeguard the UN-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law, resolutely oppose hegemonism and power politics, practice true multilateralism, and promote the building of a more just and equitable global governance system, Xi said.
Xi said that during his four-day visit, he will meet with President Putin to have in-depth communication on bilateral relations, practical cooperation as well as major international and regional issues of common concern, which will inject strong impetus into the development of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era.
Noting that he will attend Russia's May 9th Victory Day celebrations again after a decade, Xi said he looks forward to working with leaders of other countries and the Russian people to deeply commemorate the martyrs who heroically sacrificed their lives for the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War, and send out a strong voice of the times to safeguard international fairness and justice.
Xi's entourage, including Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, and Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and foreign minister, arrived on the same plane.
China's Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui also came to the airport to greet Xi upon his arrival.
As Xi's motorcade drove from the airport to the hotel, local Russian residents, representatives of personnel from Chinese-funded enterprises in Russia, and Chinese students gathered by the roadsides, waving the national flags of China and Russia and holding red banners with messages extending a warm welcome to the Chinese president.
Xi arrives in Moscow to begin state visit, attend Victory Day celebrations
Xi arrives in Moscow to begin state visit, attend Victory Day celebrations
Xi arrives in Moscow to begin state visit, attend Victory Day celebrations
Xi arrives in Moscow to begin state visit, attend Victory Day celebrations
