Russian President Vladimir Putin will pay a state visit to China from March 21 to 22 at the invitation of President Hu Jintao, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang made the announcement Thursday at the regular press conference.

President Putin will also attend the opening ceremonies of the Year of Russia and a Sino-Russian business summit forum, according to Qin.

During the visit, the spokesman said, Hu and Putin will hold talks and exchange views on furthering increase bilateral strategic and cooperative partnership and major international and regional issues.

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, and Premier Wen Jiabao will also meet with Putin respectively.

Besides, a series of bilateral cooperative documents will be signed during the visit, said Qin.

He said that China and Russia enjoy a "very good" strategic and cooperative partnership and bilateral cooperation is "all-dimensional", including energy cooperation as an important area.

The mutually-beneficial and win-win Sino-Russian energy cooperation conforms to the interests of both sides and the Chinese side will work with the Russian side to make joint efforts to enhance bilateral cooperation in this regard, said the spokesman.

Source: Xinhua