Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (L) arrives at the airport in Vladivostok, Russia, March 20, 2010. At the invitation of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping arrived here Saturday for a five-day official visit to Russia. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (R,front) is offered bread and salt as he arrives in Vladivostok, Russia, March 20, 2010. At the invitation of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping arrived here Saturday for a five-day official visit to Russia.(Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

During his stay in Russia, Xi, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, will meet Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, and Putin, who is also chairman of the ruling United Russia party, and State Duma Chairman Boris Gryzlov.

They will exchange views on bilateral relations and other regional and international issues of common concern.

Xi is also expected to attend the opening ceremony of the Year of Chinese Language in Russia as well as the opening of the second round of strategic dialogue between the Chinese and Russian ruling parties.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang earlier said that the Year of Chinese Language in Russia will promote mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese and Russian people and enhance their cultural cooperation.

"The visit is an important diplomatic action of China. China attaches high importance to relations with the four countries, and our relations with them are developing smoothly," Qin said.

At a press conference for the upcoming Year of Chinese Language held in Moscow on Wednesday, Li Hui, Chinese ambassador to Russia, said the language year would be conducive to nurturing language talents and deepening the bilateral relationship.

China held the Year of Russian Language in 2009 and, with this year's reciprocation in Russia is an effort to further consolidate the bilateral strategic partnership of cooperation.

Li said previously the Year of Chinese Language, with its many events, would write a new page in China-Russia ties and elevate bilateral relations to a new high.

Russian First Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Denisov and Mikhail Titarenko, chairman of the Russia-China Friendship Association, said the frequent high-level exchanges in 2009, joint celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Russia-China diplomatic relations and the success of the Year of Russian Language had played a key role in deepening bilateral relations.

They believed Russia-China relations would maintain sound development in 2010 and a series of grand events, including the Year of Chinese Language, would further boost their bilateral ties.

China has been Russia's biggest trading partner since February last year. Sino-Russian trade reached its peak in 2008, with trade volume hitting a record 58.8 billion U.S. dollars.

However, the volume was dragged down by the global economic downturn last year, falling 31.8 percent year on year to 38.8 billion dollars.

Their trade surged 67.9 percent on an annual basis in the first two months of 2010, bringing it close to the pre-crisis level.

Russia is the first leg of Xi's four-nation Europe tour, which will also take him to Belarus, Finland and Sweden. He is expected to stay in Russia until March 24.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (L) accepts bouquet as he arrives in Vladivostok, Russia, March 20, 2010. At the invitation of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping arrived here Saturday for a five-day official visit to Russia.(Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (L) shakes hands with overseas Chinese representatives in Vladivostok, Russia, March 20, 2010. At the invitation of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping arrived here Saturday for a five-day official visit to Russia.(Xinhua/Rao Aimin)