SHANGHAI, Mar 22 -- CHINESE and Russian companies are expected to sign more than US$2 billion worth of contracts and agreements during President Hu Jintao's visit to Russia next week, a Foreign Ministry official said yesterday.

Assistant Foreign Minister Li Hui said Hu and Russian President Vladimir Putin would also discuss counter-terrorism, military cooperation, nuclear non-proliferation and how to boost links between Russian's far east and China's northeast.

"Energy is an extremely important constituent part of relations and cooperation between China and Russia. We already have very good cooperation in this field," Li told a news conference ahead of the three-day trip that begins on Monday.

"Energy has been an issue discussed at the highest levels of leadership over the past few years," he added.

Liu had few details on what deals may be signed, apart from one between China and Russia's state-owned railways on the transport of crude oil.

Other contracts are expected to be signed at an exhibition in Moscow attended by over 100 Chinese companies, including, energy, cars, home appliance, tourism and technology firms, Li added.

Hu and Putin will attend the opening ceremony of the Year of China in Russia and that of the China national exhibition.

The China national exhibition will be the biggest ever such exhibition sponsored by China in a foreign country, Li said.

He said some 200 enterprises and organizations from around China, including the Hong Kong and Macau special administrative regions, will attend the exhibition, with more than 15,000 kinds of products on show.

When asked about China-Russia military cooperation, Li said, the purpose of China-Russia military cooperation is to enhance exchanges and contribute to world peace and stability. The cooperation is not aimed at any third country.

Defense ministers and senior military officers of China and Russia have exchanged frequent visits in recent years, Li added.

(Xinhua/Shanghai Daily)