On the afternoon of September 16, 2019 local time, at the invitation of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev of the Government of the Russian Federation, Premier Li Keqiang arrived at the Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg by a special plane to pay an official visit to Russia and hold the 24th regular meeting between Chinese Premier and Russian Prime Minister.

Premier Li Keqiang's wife Cheng Hong, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and other delegation members arrived by the same plane. Vice Premiers Sun Chunlan and Hu Chunhua who had arrived in St. Petersburg earlier for the regular meeting between Chinese Premier and Russian Prime Minister greeted Premier Li Keqiang at the airport. H.E. Zhang Hanhui, Chinese Ambassador to Russia, also greeted Premier Li Keqiang at the airport.

The Russian side held a grand welcome ceremony for Li Keqiang and his wife at the airport. The military band played the national anthems of China and Russia. The national flags of the two countries fluttered in the wind. Accompanied by senior officials of the Russian government, Li Keqiang inspected the guard of honor.

Li Keqiang said, this year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of China-Russia diplomatic relationship. Recently, President Xi Jinping has paid a successful visit to Russia and elevated bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era, starting a new stage for bilateral relations of higher level and greater development. I hope the regular meeting between Chinese Premier and Russian Prime Minister this time will promote our two countries' all-round practical cooperation to bear new fruits, further enrich China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era, and better benefit the two peoples.

Li Keqiang pointed out, amid complicated and profound changes in the international situation and an increasing downward pressure on the world economy, the Chinese side is willing to step up coordination and cooperation with the Russian side on international affairs, jointly defend multilateralism and free trade, and work together to contribute to improving global governance, forging an open world economy, and safeguarding regional and world peace, development and prosperity.

During his visit to Russia, Li Keqiang will hold the regular meeting with Dmitry Medvedev, sign a joint communique, witness the signing of bilateral cooperation documents, and jointly meet the press. Li Keqiang will also meet with President Vladimir Putin.