Chinese President Xi Jinping (front L), accompanied by Russian Minister of Far East Development Viktor Ishayev (front R), inspects the guard of honor upon his arrival in Moscow, capital of Russia, March 22, 2013. Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow Friday for a state visit to Russia.[Photo/Xinhua]

Talking with Putin over phone on March 14 upon his election as Chinese president, Xi said he was looking forward to meeting Putin during his visit and exchanging views with him on ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation as well as on major regional and international affairs.

Xi also said he believed his visit to Russia would inject new vigor into the development of Russia-China relations.

Putin said Russia was making active efforts to prepare for Xi's visit, and expressed the belief that the visit would further promote bilateral cooperation and humanistic exchanges as well as strengthen bilateral ties.

The China-Russia comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership has developed steadily in recent years. Political mutual trust has kept increasing, pragmatic cooperation in all fields has yielded fruits, and the two sides have maintained close communication and coordination on international and regional affairs.

In 2012, bilateral trade reached a record high of 88 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 11 percent over the previous year.

Last month, China and Russia have reached an important consensus on boosting oil trade, marking major progress in China-Russia energy cooperation.

The Chinese and Russian governments endorsed their respective enterprises' negotiations on gas supplies to be delivered via an east pipeline, with Russia set to deliver 38 billion cubic meters of gas each year to China.

The two sides will continue feasibility research on liquefied natural gas cooperation using the east line, as well as gas to be supplied via a west line.

The two countries are working to boost bilateral trade, with the goals of reaching 100 billion dollars by 2015 and 200 billion dollars by 2020.

After the Russia trip, Xi will fly to the African continent for a state visit to Tanzania, South Africa, and the Republic of the Congo.

In South Africa, Xi will also attend the fifth BRICS summit in the port city of Durban on March 26-27, the first to be held on the African continent. Leaders of the BRICS countries will also have a retreat with African leaders.