In the afternoon of October 12 local time, Premier Li Keqiang, at the invitation of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev of Russia, arrived at the Vnukovo No.2 airport of Moscow by special plane, starting his official visit to Russia and holding the 19th regular meeting between Chinese and Russian Prime Ministers.

Senior officials of the Russian government greeted Li Keqiang at the airport, and Russia held a grand welcome ceremony for him. The military band played the national anthems of China and Russia. Li Keqiang reviewed the guard of honor.

Vice Premiers Liu Yandong and Wang Yang, who arrived in Moscow at an earlier time for the regular meeting between Chinese and Russian Prime Ministers, H.E. Li Hui, Chinese Ambassador to Russia, and others also greeted Li Keqiang at the airport.

Li Keqiang said that China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination has entered a new development stage. I expect that the visit will further deepen China-Russia traditional friendship and expand bilateral practical cooperation so as to push bilateral relations for greater development.

During the visit, Li Keqiang will meet with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, and together with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, hold the 19th regular meeting between Chinese and Russian Prime Ministers and attend and address the opening ceremony of the International Forum on Open Innovation, and meet with Chairman of the State Duma and Chairwoman of the Federation Council of Russia.

Li Keqiang arrived in Moscow after successfully concluding his official visit to Germany and chairing the third round of China-Germany intergovernmental consultations. Upon leaving Germany, senior officials of the German government, H.E. Shi Mingde, Chinese Ambassador to Germany, and others bade farewells at the airport.