On March 26, 2007, Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in Moscow for a state visit to Russia, during which he will attend the opening ceremony for the "Year of China" in Russia and other activities.

At 12:40, local time, Hu's special plane landed at Vnukovo-2 Airport in Moscow. Hu was warmly welcomed by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losiukov and other senior officials at the airport and attended the welcome ceremony held there.

In a written statement issued upon his arrival at the airport, Hu said that the year 2006 witnessed important progress made in the development of Sino-Russian relations. The principles set forth in the Sino-Russian Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation have been further implemented, he said. Taking the opportunity of the "Year of Russia in China" and the "Year of China in Russia", the two countries have strived to promote the Sino-Russian strategic partnership of cooperation. Hu said that the bilateral ties have developed rapidly with enhanced mutual political trust, fruitful pragmatic cooperation, dynamic cultural exchanges and the strengthening of strategic coordination in international affairs. "The all-round and rapid development of the Sino-Russian relations has brought the peoples of the two countries substantial interests," he noted.

The Chinese president said it is in the fundamental interests of both countries and their peoples to promote the friendship for generations between the two peoples and push for mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas. Hu said that China is ready to work with Russia to implement the Sino-Russian Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, build up mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries and the two peoples, expand pragmatic cooperation, and increase achievements in mutually beneficial cooperation, so as to push forward the long-term sound and steady development of the Sino-Russian strategic partnership of cooperation for the benefit of both peoples and make greater contributions to safeguarding world peace and promoting common development.

"During my visit, I would meet President (Vladimir) Putin for in-depth discussions on bilateral ties and important world and regional issues," Hu said. Hu and Putin will attend the opening ceremony for the "Year of China in Russia", as well as the opening ceremony for a Chinese national exhibition. Hu expressed belief that the current visit would give new impetus to deepened Sino-Russian relations and enhanced pragmatic cooperation between the two countries.

Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi, who also chairs the organizing committee of the Chinese side for the Year of Russia and the Year of China, had arrived in Moscow at an earlier date and other accompanying officials arrived by the same plane.

Wu Yi, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Liu Guchang and the staff of the embassy welcomed the Chinese delegation at the airport.

During Hu's visit to Russia in July 2005, China and Russia agreed to host the "Year of Russia in China" in 2006 and the "Year of China in Russia" in 2007 in a bid to push for strategic partnership of cooperation between the two sides.