Photo: www.news.cn

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday left Beijing for his first official overseas visit as President of China. He will visit Russia, Tanzania, South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He will also attend the BRICS Summit (including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) scheduled to take place next Wednesday in Durban, South Africa. Ahead of Xi’s departure, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin told the Russian news agency Itar-tass that Russia-China relations have strengthened over many decades and this visit by the Chinese President will reinforce the strategic partnership between the two countries.