By Li Hongmei

President Xi Jinping will visit Russia from February 6 to 8 to attend the opening ceremony, China said on Monday in an apparent show of support for Russian President Vladimir Putin, which is also showcasing China-Russia relationship is always high on the agenda of the Chinese leadership.

On the flipside, Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe may also attend the opening ceremony for the Sochi Winter Olympics, but China has ruled out any formal meeting with President Xi.

Japan chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga said last week plans were being made for an Abe trip to Sochi to attend the opening ceremony, but nothing had been finalized. The Olympics run from February 7 to 23.

Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Cheng Guoping, speaking in Beijing on Tuesday, said Xi had no plans to meet any Japanese leader in Sochi.

"If there is a situation (where there is an encounter between the two), the Chinese leader will sternly explain China's position," Cheng said.

Japan's ties with China have recently deteriorated due to a series of disputes, including Abe's visit to a shrine seen as a symbol of Japanese militarism - a visit that also infuriated South Korea, which like China also suffered from Japan's wartime aggression. The visit also prompted concern from key Tokyo ally, the United States.

China has 'complete faith' in Sochi security

China is confident that Russia will be able to guarantee security at next month's Winter Olympics in Sochi, officials said on Tuesday.

To ease fears over possible breaches of security, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered safety measures beefed up nationwide after 34 people were killed last month in bombings in Volgograd, another city in southern Russia.

While about 37,000 Russian personnel are providing security in the Sochi area, the United States in particular has expressed concern about the security situation.

China, though, is completely confident, Deputy Foreign Minister Cheng Guoping told reporters in Beijing.

"China has complete faith that Russia has the ability to ensure the security of the Sochi Winter Olympics. I believe these games will be successful with this tight security," Cheng said.

"China has been in close touch and has coordinated with Russia about this."

Russia and China may hold joint naval drill in Mediterranean: Russian media

China and Russia, two countries taking part in the international mission to remove Syria's chemical weapons stockpile, may soon hold a joint naval exercise in the Mediterranean Sea, reports the People's Daily on its website, citing the Moscow-based Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

At a press conference held in December last year, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said China will send the Yancheng, a Type 054A frigate, for the escort mission, adding it was important to take part in the UN-backed mission.

After arriving in Syrian waters on Jan. 7, the Yancheng quickly joined with Russian cruiser Peter the Great, Danish combat support ship Snell and Norwegian frigate Engstar to escort the first batch of Syria's chemical weapons.

The Russian defense ministry said in a statement that Captain Pyshklov, commanding officer of the Mediterranean Combat Group of the Russian Navy, visited the Yancheng on Jan. 15 to exchange ideas with his Chinese counterpart about future operations.

"On board the Chinese patrol ship, Russian sailors discussed with their foreign counterparts the possibility of joint tactical exercises in the Mediterranean Sea," said an official statement from the Russian defense ministry, "Under the agreement, such exercises can be carried out in the near future in an effort to improve the level of operational compatibility between Russian and Chinese warships during joint operations in the eastern Mediterranean."

Qin Gang, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, confirmed on Jan. 20 that President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in the Russian city of Sochi.

"Xi's attendance shows China's support to Russia hosting the Winter Olympics," said Qin, "China pays high regard to, and actively participates in, the international Olympics."

The Winter Olympics will be held in Russia on Feb. 6-24. Xi's two-day visit to Sochi can thus be considered a positive sign for the relationship between China and Russia, the Rossiyskaya Gazeta said.

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