BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhuanet) -- The upcoming visit to Russia by Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing will promote bilateral cooperation, Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said here Thursday.

   Kong announced that Li will visit Russia in the latter half of April and will also attend the foreign ministers' regular meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to be held in Moscow on April 23.

   In response to a related question, Kong said since China and Russia established strategic partnership of cooperation, especially after the two heads of state signed the good-neighborlytreaty of friendship and cooperation in 2001, bilateral relations have developed smoothly and the cooperation and coordination in regional and international affairs have also been strengthened.

   Li will meet his new Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov and he will also have opportunities to meet his old friends.The two sideswill exchange views on issues of common concern.

   Kong said Li will also exchange views with foreign ministers ofRussia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan on the development of SCO.

   China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are the six member countries of SCO, a regional organization founded in 2002. Enditem