On May 29, 2012, Vice Foreign Minister Cheng Guoping and Russian Ambassador to China Sergei Razov held a joint briefing in Beijing News Plaza on Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to China.
Cheng introduced the current development and achievements of China-Russia relations and said that Russian President Vladimir Putin, at the invitation of President Hu Jintao, will pay a state visit to China from June 5 to 7 and attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. It will be President Putin's first visit to China after he took office in May this year. The meeting of the heads of state of China and Russia in the new historical conditions will be of great strategic significance to the future development of the bilateral relations. China attaches great importance to the visit. During the visit, President Hu will hold talks with President Putin and other major Chinese leaders will meet with him. The leaders will review the development achievements of the bilateral ties over the years and exchange in-depth opinions on the future development of the bilateral relations and major international and regional issues. At present, the two sides are making active preparations for President Putin's visit to China. Cheng believes that President Putin's visit will be a full success with the joint efforts of both sides and the meeting of the two heads of state in Beijing will inject new momentum for the development of China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership.
Razov spoke highly of the development results of the bilateral relations. He said that the development of relations between Russia and China serves the fundamental interests of both countries and is fully supported by the two peoples. Russia and China have completely resolved the border issue and share broad common interests in the development of bilateral relations and the international and regional affairs. There exists no knotty problem between the two sides. President Putin's visit will be a major event of Russia-China relations this year. Leaders of both countries will comprehensively exchange views over the development of bilateral ties and focus on such topics as trade, energy, investment, modernization and innovation cooperation. They will also share opinions on the major international and regional issues. President Putin's visit will surely promote the further development of relations between Russia and China.
The two sides also answered questions of the Chinese and Russian media on energy sources, the regional and technological cooperation, the Asia-Pacific security cooperation, the SCO and the Afghan issue.