The upcoming China visit by Russian President Boris Yeltsin is "important" and will further enhance Sino-Russian strategic and cooperative partnership oriented towards the next century, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue in Beijing on December 7

Zhang made the statement at a regular press conference here this afternoon.

At the invitation of Chinese President Jiang Zemin, Yeltsin will visit China from December 9 to 10, during which the two heads of state will hold their second informal summit, Zhang said.

Chinese top legislator Li Peng and Premier Zhu Rongji will also meet with President Yeltsin during his visit here, the spokeswoman said.