China said Thursday that new Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will visit later this month, AP reported. Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said Medvedev will make a state visit May 23-24 at the invitation of President Hu Jintao. «The Chinese government and people attach great importance to Mr. Medvedev's visit and we hope his visit will further promote close exchanges between the two countries, deepen our strategic mutual trust and expand our cooperation in a wide range of fields,» Qin said at a regular news briefing. Medvedev was sworn in as Russian president Wednesday, ending Vladimir Putin's eight-year presidency. Details of the visit are still being discussed, Qin said, adding, «We are very much looking forward to this visit.» His trip to China will be part of his first foreign trip as president but he is expected to visit Kazakhstan before arriving in Beijing. The Kremlin said Thursday that he will spend May 22-23 in Kazakhstan, part of the former Soviet Union. Medvedev will be making his first overseas trip as president but he is expected to visit Kazakhstan first before arriving in Beijing.
