I. Mr. Foreign Minister, President Dmitry Medvedev's state visit to China is his first state visit outside the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) since he was sworn as the President of Russia. What are your comments on the decision of the Russian leader? How well do President Hu Jintao and President Dmitry Medvedev know each other?

President Medvedev's decision to make China his first foreign visit outside the CIS only half a month after taking office as the President of Russia fully demonstrates the high degree of importance he and the Russian government place on the China-Russia relationship and the high level of China-RUssia strategic partnership of coordination. China speaks highly of it.

China attaches great important to President Medvedev's visit, which is of great significance. The strategic partnership of coordination is in an important stage of inheriting the past traditions and forging ahead into the future. I believe that President Medvedev's visit will inject new vitalities into the development of bilateral ties and push the pragmatic cooperation and strategic coordination between China and Russia to a new stage.

President Medvedev is an old friend of the Chinese people. In December 2005, he visited China as the Chairman of the Russian Organizing Committee for the China-Russia "National Year" events and had a meeting with President Hu Jintao. They had an exchange of in-depth views on the China-Russia relationship, the China-Russia "National Year" events and other issues of mutual interest. During the China-Russia "National Year" events, he met with President Hu on many occasions as the Chairman of the Russian Organizing Committee. He made an outstanding contribution to the success of those events and to the promotion of the strategic partnership of coordination between the two countries, which we highly recognize. During his first state visit to China, he will meet with President Hu Jintao for the first time as the Russian President. The two Presidents will also meet on many multilateral occasions this year. We firmly believe that these meetings will help the two Presidents strengthen their personal friendship, enhance their working relationship, increase their mutual trust and ensure the development of China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination at high levels and along a stable, healthy and long-term track.

II. What are the main topics to be discussed at the meetings between the Russian President and the Chinese leaders? What documents will they sign?

The two heads of state will comprehensively summarize the achievements and experiences of China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination, exchange views on increasing mutual political trust, expanding pragmatic cooperation, deepening strategic coordination, and addressing major regional and international issues of mutual interest, and make plans for the development of bilateral ties in the future.

The two heads of state will sign the political document summarizing the results of President Medvedev's visit, expounding the views on how to develop China-Russia relationship and outlining common opinions on international issues. The related departments and the business communities will also sign a series of cooperation documents.

III. China and Russia worked very closely on resolving a series of major diplomatic incidents, such as the Iranian nuclear issue and the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula. What is the position of China on these issues? What can China and Russia do more to resolve these issues?

Strengthening strategic coordination on regional and international affairs and exchanging views and coordinating each other's position on major international and hotspot issues is an important embodiment of China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination.

China always supports and safeguards the international non-proliferation system and advocates peacefully resolving the Iranian nuclear issue through diplomatic negotiations so as to maintain the peace and stability in the Middle-East region. This conforms to the interest of all parties. Iran, as a signatory state of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), enjoys the right to use nuclear power for peaceful purposes and in the meantime should fulfill its international obligations.

China is always committed to promoting peace and facilitating talks. China has already held 8 six-party foreign ministers' meetings on the Iranian nuclear issue with countries concerned including Russia and we have made unremitting efforts toward resolving the issue. Under the current situation, China is willing to work together with Russia to intensify diplomatic efforts and promote the early resumption of talks so as to find a proper solution to the long-term and comprehensive resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue.

It is in the interest of all parties to peacefully resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, have a nuclear-free peninsula, and maintain the peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia. This is also the aspiration of the international community. We are willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Russia, India and other members in the international community to play constructive roles in promoting the six-party peace talks and achieving a nuclear-free peninsula.

IV. How will the cooperation in military affairs and technologies develop during the tenure of the new President of Russia?

The cooperation in military affairs and technologies is an important part of the strategic partnership of coordination between China and Russia. It not only testifies the high level of mutual trust and strategic partnership of coordination, but also plays an important role in maintaining the strategic balance of the world, advancing the process of multi-polarization, and promoting peace and stability in the world.

The cooperation in military technologies is based upon mutual benefits and win-win results and it is not aimed against any third party. We shall fulfill the reached agreements and consensus on the existing basis and promote sustainable and enhanced development of cooperation in this sphere, thus enriching the strategic partnership of coordination between the two countries with new contents.

V. Beijing will soon embrace the opening of the Olympic Games. Sochi is the hosting city of the 2014 Winter Olympics. Will China share its experience with the Russian side?

The Olympics in Beijing is a grand sports festival for the people all over the world. It is the long-cherished aspiration of the Chinese nation to hold a successful Olympics. The Olympics is approaching. The Chinese government and people are making the best efforts preparing for the Games. The Chinese government has the confidence and capabilities in our power to host a high-level Olympics with distinguishing features. China will create excellent competition conditions for athletes coming from all parts of the world and provide facilitations for reporting activities by foreign media friends. It is our best wishes that the Russian athletes would achieve outstanding results in the Beijing Olympics.

China and Russia have important influence on international sports and have made important contributions to the development of sports in the world. With the framework of the China-Russia "National Year" events, the sports communities of the two countries have carried out productive exchanges and cooperation. The Chinese-Russian Youth Sports Games was successfully held. The sports federations and research institutions maintained friendly interactions. The two countries enjoy great potentials for cooperation in the sports arena for the two countries are highly complementary in many sports. China is willing to learn from Russia and share with Russia our experiences. We should support each other in hosting the Summer Olympic Games and the Winter Olympic Games respectively and make our contributions to the development of international Olympic sports and the spread of the Olympic spirit.

VI. Does the Chinese leaders hope President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin attend the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Olympic Games?

Russia is a friendly neighbor of China and an important partner of China. China sincerely welcomes the Russian leaders to attend the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Olympics and we are looking forward to that. China will make thoughtful arrangements for their attendance.