Special Report: Premier Wen visits Russia, Kazakhstan, attends SCO meeting

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) meets with Boris Gryzlov, chairman of the State Duma of Russia, the lower house of Russia's parliament, in Moscow, capital of Russia, Oct. 28, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    MOSCOW, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met here on Tuesday with Boris Gryzlov, speaker of the Russian State Duma, the lower house of parliament.

    Wen hailed the sound development of China-Russia ties and spoke highly of the exchange between the two countries' parliaments and lawmakers.

    It's an unswerving set policy of the Chinese government to deepen the China-Russia strategic partnership of cooperation, which conforms to the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples, Wen said.

    China will work along with Russia to further enhance exchange and cooperation between the two legislative bodies so as to contribute to bilateral friendly cooperation, he noted.

    "We will constantly expand civil exchange between Chinese and Russian people, boost humanitarian cooperation in a bid to convey the friendship from generation to generation," Wen told Russian parliament members.

    Gryzlov said the State Duma will strengthen exchange and cooperation with the Chinese parliament, the National People's Congress, and promote understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

    Russia is the first leg of Wen's two-nation tour which will also take him to Kazakhstan for an official visit at the invitation of Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Masimov.

    Wen is scheduled to attend the 7th prime ministers' meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization member countries in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, on Oct. 30.