Chinese President Hu Jintao is to visit Moscow next week for talks with Russia's leadership and the opening of China Year in Russia, Russian news agencies reported Monday. Hu's three-day visit to the Russian capital comes amid moves by the two giant neighbours to increase both economic and political ties and marks the Chinese leader's first official visit to Moscow since 2005. Russia is currently building an 11 billion-dollar oil pipeline to meet huge demand for the fuel in China and other Asian markets, and Moscow and Beijing are the largest members of the five-nation Shanghai Cooperation Organization. A statement from the Kremlin's press service said the meeting would include "high-level talks and the participation of the heads of state in the opening ceremonies of China Year in Russia and the National Exhibition of China."
