China and Russia will sign a joint statement and a series of documents on bilateral relations during President Vladimir Putin's upcoming visit, said Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Li Hui in Beijing Thursday.

Putin will pay a state visit to China from March 21 to 22 at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao. He will attend the opening ceremony of the Year of Russia and a Sino-Russian business summit forum.

Li told a press conference that Putin's visit is of great importance to China-Russia relations.

According to Li, Hu and Putin will hold talks and exchange views on further increasing bilateral strategic and cooperative partnership as well as major international and regional issues of common concern.

Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, and Premier Wen Jiabao will also meet with Putin, respectively.

The joint statement, which will be signed by the two sides during Putin's visit, is a very important document, Li noted.

Li expressed that Putin's visit and the upcoming meeting between the two heads of state will be conducive to further cementing the good-neighborly friendship of the two countries.

And it will help increase political mutual trust, enhance mutual-beneficial cooperation and inject new vitality into the development of China-Russia strategic and cooperative partnership, he said.