Medvedev visits China to strengthen ties

BEIJING, May 23 (UPI) -- Newly installed Russian President Dmitry Medvedev traveled Friday to China, noting the Asian giant is one of his country's major foreign policy partners.

Speaking to the Chinese media before leaving, Medvedev, who took over from Vladimir Puttin on May 7, said, "Russia regards China as one of its foremost partners in its foreign policy," Xinhua reported.

Saying relations have been improving since the signing of the bilateral Good-neighborly Friendship and Cooperation Treaty in 2001, Medvedev said, "We are now going to make a new plan, which will further enhance bilateral relations."

During his two-day China visit, the Russian leader said any topic of interest to both sides could be discussed, Xinhua said.

Bilateral trade has been rising in recent years and Medvedev said he wants that to reach $60 billion this year. China's energy imports from Russia have risen from $500 million in 2001 to more than $6.7 billion 2007, the report said.

Stopping in Kazakhstan, Medvedev concluded several energy and technology deals and urged for speedy movement on last year's natural gas agreement among Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, the report said.