Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in St. Petersburg Pulkovo Airport by special plane on the evening of November 22, local time, kicking off his official visit to Russia. He will also attend the 15th China-Russia Regular Prime Ministers' Meeting.
In a written speech delivered at the airport, Wen said with joint efforts of both sides, China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination has maintained a sound growth momentum in recent years. Traditional friendship between the two peoples has deepened, high-level exchanges have been closer, political mutual trust has been enhanced and economic and trade cooperation has experienced strong recovery. People-to-people and cultural exchanges have been developing vigorously and both sides have conducted effective cooperation in international affairs, he said.
"Developing a long-term healthy and steady strategic partnership of coordination between China and Russia is in line with the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples, conducive to the development and revitalization of the two countries, and helpful to the development of the world's multipolarization and establishment of a more reasonable and just international order," Wen said. He expressed belief that the visit will help further push forward China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination.
Wen’s entourage who arrived earlier including Vice Premier Wang Qishan, State Councilor Liu Yandong, Minister of Railways Liu Zhijun, Minister of Commerce Chen Deming, Vice Minister of the National Development and Reform Commission & Director General of National Energy Bureau Zhang Guobao, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Li Hui, as well as senior officials of the Russian government greeted Wen at the airport.