By RIA Novosti,
Beijing : Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will visit China May 23-24, China’s foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said Thursday.
Medvedev was inaugurated as president Wednesday, taking over from Vladimir Putin, who was approved as the country’s premier by parliament Thursday.
Chinese foreign minister Yang Jiechi would visit Russia May 14-16 to attend the summit meeting of the BRIC grouping comprising Brazil, Russia, India and China.
“Jiechi will also hold bilateral consultations with his Russian counterpart on a wide range of cooperation issues,” Qin said.
Late Wednesday, Chinese president Hu Jintao congratulated Medvedev on his inauguration as Russia’s new president. Hu also said he was confident that bilateral cooperation between the two countries would develop further.
“I hope with you as leader the Russian nation will make progress toward prosperity and a strengthening of the country’s powers,” Hu said, urging the two “friendly nations” to enhance strategic partnership to ensure regional and global security.
Medvedev will make his first official trip abroad as head of state to Kazakhstan on May 22-23, a Kremlin spokesman said Thursday.