Putin welcomes China's Xi for landmark talks aimed at cementing relations

MOSCOW (AFP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and China's new leader Xi Jinping are to hold landmark talks on Friday in the hope of further cementing the two countries' partnership with a range of economic and strategic agreements.

The Chinese leader chose Russia for his first trip abroad after China this month completed a power handover which will see Mr Xi preside over the world's second-largest economy for the next decade.

"China and Russia are the main and most important strategic partners," Mr Xi said in an interview with Russian media, adding that he was looking forward to his meeting with Mr Putin.

"In many ways we speak a common language," he said on the eve of his Moscow trip.