On March 21 and 22, 2013, Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang, also Chairman of the Chinese Organizing Committee for “China-Russia Tourism Year”, inspected preparations for the opening ceremony of the "Tourism Year of China" in Moscow, Russia. Wang met separately with Russian Deputy Prime Ministers Olga Golodets and Dmitry Rogozin. Golodets is also Chairman of the Russian Organizing Committee for “China-Russia Tourism Year”.

When meeting with Russian leaders, Wang said Russia was the first stop of Xi's maiden overseas tour as president of China, which showed Chinese leaders attached great importance to the development of China-Russia relations. Xi and his counterpart Vladimir Putin are expected to attend the opening ceremony of the "Tourism Year of China" in Russia, which Wang said was a major event during Xi’s visit as well as one of the highlights in this year's China-Russia cultural exchanges. He urged both China and Russia to work together to guarantee the successful holding of the opening ceremony.

Wang said the "Tourism Year of Russia" in China last year was very successful and it aroused Chinese people's enthusiasm for visiting Russia. According to Russian statistics, the number of Chinese tourists to Russia increased 47 percent in 2012 on a year-on-year basis. Wang said he was sure the "Tourism Year of China" in Russia this year would help increase the number of travelers between the two countries. "China and Russia should take the opportunity of the 'China-Russia Tourism Year' to promote bilateral cooperation in tourism and the two countries need to work together to continuously consolidate popular support for the China-Russia friendship," said Wang. Wang stressed that the two sides should make joint efforts to further translate the advantages of political relations into all-round practical cooperation outcome for the benefit of the two peoples.

The Russian side noted their country is encouraged by Xi’s selection of Russia as the first stop of his maiden overseas tour since he took office and believes Xi's visit will help push Russia-China ties to a higher level. Russia will spare no effort in working with China to guarantee the success of the opening ceremony and relevant evens.

After the meetings, Wang and Russian leaders witnessed the signing of 15 cooperation documents by relevant agencies, schools, businesses and financial institutions of the two countries.

During his stay in Russia, Wang also held discussions with people from the Russian tourism sector, presided over the third meeting of the Chinese Organizing Committee of China-Russia Tourism Year, held a forum with Chinese entrepreneurs in Russia and attended the opening ceremony of Russia subsidiary of China Construction Bank.