Chinese State Council's vice-premier to visit Russia

The State Council's Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli is set to visit Russia and expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Thursday.

According to the spokesperson, Zhang Gaoli will visit Russia on April 11-13.

"At the invitation of the Russian government, Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli of the State Council will travel to Russia from April 11 to 13 for the fourth meeting of the China-Russia Investment Cooperation Committee and the co-chairs' meeting of the China-Russia Energy Cooperation Committee," she said.

Asserting that investments and energy are the key areas of cooperation between the two countries, Hua said, "The China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination is in the best state ever."

She further said that for the sound and stable growth of the bilateral relationship steady progress in major strategic cooperation programs plays a vital role.

Vice-Premier will co-host the fourth meeting of the China-Russia Investment Cooperation Committee with First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, and the co-chairs' meeting of the China-Russia Energy Cooperation Committee with Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich.

China-Russia cooperation in investment, energy, finance will be the main focus of the discussion.

China's Foreign Ministry earlier said that Vice-Premier would visit Russia as part of a tour across European and Central Asian countries between April 11 and 19, to participate in the meeting of the intergovernmental Russian-Chinese commission on investment cooperation and in the session of the Russian-Chinese commission on energy cooperation.