A country with the largest population and the second largest economy in Africa, Nigeria boasts large markets and abundant energy and resources. China and Nigeria complement each other in economic structure with large spaces for mutual beneficial cooperation. Both countries have expanded cooperation in many areas, such as trade, infrastructure construction, energy, agriculture and telecommunications and have made solid achievements. Many cooperation projects with Nigeria were the first of their kinds China conducted in Africa. Nigeria is now China's third largest trade partner and second largest export market in Africa, while China is Nigeria's largest source of imports. Bilateral trade has exceeded $10 billion for two successive years and doubled every five years.

During his visit, Chairman Zhang will exchange views on further enhancing cooperation with Nigeria in various fields, listen to opinions and suggestions, and learn about and find solutions for the difficulties and challenges faced by both governments and enterprises. He will focus on promoting cooperation in areas such as the economy and trade and people-to-people contacts through exchanges between legislatures of both sides, to push forward the solid advancement of strategic partnership between the two countries.

What is your view on current China-Russia relations? How will Chairman Zhang's visit influence bilateral relations, especially between the legislative organs of the two countries?

China and Russia enjoy a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. In March, President Xi Jinping paid a state visit of historical significance to Russia. He met with President Vladimir Putin again recently at the G20 summit. The two state leaders reached a consensus on a wide range of issues and agreed with each other completely on ways to promote cooperation. This high-standard political relationship has resulted in many tangible benefits and positive changes. When the two leaders met in St. Petersburg on September 5, they witnessed the signing of many important documents concerning cooperation in areas such as energy, aviation and communication between local governments. Relations between China and Russia have entered a new phase.

The most special part of China-Russia relations is that the mutual political trust is based on the real situation in the 21st century. We hold identical or similar views almost on all major global and regional issues. At home, we both have to develop our economies and improve the people's livelihoods. Internationally, we both favor peace and stability, stand for dialogue and cooperation and advocate the purposes and principles of the UN Charter be upheld. We both want to comply with the elementary requirements of international law.

Moreover, both China and Russia are emerging markets. In view of the global economic turmoil, we share the common view that the world needs more coordination and cooperation and all emerging markets should work together closely to weather the storm. To put it simply, there are no substantial obstacles in the relations between China and Russia. The two countries are true good neighbors.

Inter-parliamentary cooperation constitutes a major part of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Russia. Progress in bilateral ties offers more opportunities but also poses greater challenges in the cooperation of the two countries' legislative bodies. In 2005, the cooperation committee between China's NPC and the Russian Federation Council was set up, a sign that the legislative dialogue has become regular. The committee is China's only institution for high-level communication and exchange led by the NPC chairman. It is one of the most active and effective regular diplomatic programs between China's NPC and a foreign parliament. Thanks to the committee, the two institutions have exchanged experiences on social management and other issues and made great efforts to promote practical cooperation in such fields as local economic cooperation and cultural exchanges.

Facilitating international economic and trade cooperation is an important diplomatic mission of the NPC. During its communication with local governments and enterprises, it has accumulated many constructive suggestions and proposals on enhancing economic and trade cooperation with Russia, such as how to get rid of transport bottlenecks, how to facilitate bilateral trade and how to tackle the difficulties enterprises face in their development. The cooperation committee between the two countries' legislative bodies will serve as a platform for the two institutions to exchange information and find solutions to problems.

Chairman Zhang's visit to Russia will play a significant historical role, because it is his first state visit to Russia after being elected NPC chairman. He will attend the seventh meeting of the cooperation committee, which is the first meeting between the new session of NPC and the Russian Federation Council. During the visit, Chairman Zhang is expected to meet with Russian leaders, including Valentina Matvienko, Chairwoman of the Federation Council, and both will attend the seventh meeting of their cooperation committee. Chairman Zhang will also meet his old friend Sergey Naryshkin, Chairman of the State Duma, for further discussion on enhancing legislative cooperation. I believe that Chairman Zhang's visit will achieve many things.