As a key part of the Sino-Russian strategic relations, the two states hosted theme years to boost social exchanges: the Year of Russia in China in 2006 and the Year of China in Russia in 2007.

Medvedev, then first deputy prime minister and Russia's chairman of the theme years' organizing committee, said such activities were pioneer projects and had yielded remarkable achievements.

Further concrete cooperation

The China-Russia strategic partnership of cooperation entered its second decade in 2007. This year marks the end of the first phase of the Sino-Russian Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation.

Medvedev's visit at such a time would enable the two state leaders to make strategic plans for future development and hold in-depth discussion on further cooperation, analysts said.

Meanwhile, China and Russia, with rising economies, have focused on conducting wide cooperation un der globalization.

"New booming economies play increasing roles in promoting the world economy, un der which China and Russia would consider fresh cooperation," said Jiang Yi, expert with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

As both are permanent members of the UN Security Coun cil, China and Russia have played important roles in seeking solutions to the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and Iran's nuclear program.

They are both mediators in the six-party talks on the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and international talks concerning Iran.