Xi says ready to work with Putin to make new plans for dev of bilateral relations

Chinese President Xi Jinping told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday that he is ready to continue building bilateral relations in the right direction of development, as well as to develop new plans for cooperation in all areas.

"Mr. President, this is your first foreign visit since the beginning of the new presidential term, which is a convincing evidence of the attention that you personally and the Russian government pay to Chinese-Russian relations, we highly appreciate it," Xi said at a meeting with Putin in Beijing.

"Mr. President, I am ready to work with you to keep our bilateral relations in the right direction of development and develop new plans for cooperation in all areas," he added.

Earlier, Putin arrived at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing for talks with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, a Sputnik correspondent reported on Thursday.

The Russian president arrived in China for a two-day state visit and will travel to Beijing and Harbin. Putin will hold restricted attendance talks with Xi in China's capital on Thursday, which will be later followed by an enlarged meeting with the participation of delegations of the two countries.

Elementary school students in Beijing greeted President Vladimir Putin with flowers and Russian and Chinese flags as he arrived at the Great Hall of the People.