BEIJING, May 8 (Xinhuanet) -- At the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Hu Jintao left here Sunday for Moscow to attend the celebration ceremony of the 60th anniversary of the victory of Russia's Great Patriotic War scheduled on May 9.

    Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan is among those accompanying Hu on the visit.

    On the sidelines of the celebration, Hu is expected to meet with French President Jacques Chirac, President Roh Moo-hyun of the Republic of Korea, President Saparmurad Atayevich Niyazov of Turkmenistan and Romanian President Traian Bbasescu, as well as Russian President Vladimir Putin.

    Hu is also expected to meet Russian veterans, who had helped China in fighting against Japanese invaders in the World War II, or their relatives, according to Assistant Foreign Minister Li Hui.

    More than 50 state leaders and representatives of international organizations will attend the celebration ceremony in Moscow.    Enditem