Chinese top legislator Li Peng arrived in Moscow Monday on a nine-day official visit to Russia.

In a written speech delivered at the airport, the chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress said Sino-Russian ties have witnessed vigorous development since the establishment of state-to-state relations.

Bilateral good-neighborly relations of mutual trust and mutual benefit have reached a new high and demonstrated strong vitality since the advent of the China-Russia strategic partnership of cooperation in 1996, Li said.

Li flew in from Latvia, where he had a three-day official visit. Upon leaving Riga, Li sent messages to Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Parliament Speaker Janis Straume and Prime Minister Andris Berzins thanking them for their hospitality.

He said the Lativa trip has been a complete success and fulfilled the aims of deepening understanding, reinforcing trust, enhancing friendship and strengthening cooperation.

During his stay in Moscow, the Chinese leader will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Federation Council (upper house of parliament) Speaker Yegor Stroyev and State Duma (lower house) Speaker Gennady Seleznyov.

He will also meet with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov and other Russian leaders, Li said.

The Chinese leader said continued deepening of the Sino-Russian strategic partnership in the new century is of immense importance to maintaining global peace and stability and to the sustained stable economic development of both countries.

He said the recent successful China visit by Russian President Putin represented a link between the past and future in bilateral ties.

Besides Moscow, Li will visit Novosibirsk in Siberia and Vladivostok in the Far East.

(Xinhua 09/12/2000)