MOSCOW, Feb. 4 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has shown by his actions that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Russia ties, experts said here prior to a visit by the Chinese leader to Sochi for the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Russian sinologist and historian Evgeny Petrovich Bazhanov told Xinhua he had fond memories of meeting with Xi last March when the Chinese president visited Russia for the first time since taking office.

Bazhanov, rector of the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministry, recalled that during the meeting with Russian sinologists and media representatives, Xi first expounded on the significance of choosing Russia for his maiden foreign trip as Chinese president.

"He said Russia is China's most important partner and his choice of Russia as the first destination of his trip abroad shows the world that there is a special bond between the two nations," said Bazhanov.

Xi's remarks on the occasion also showed that the Chinese leader has a fairly good grasp of Russia's national realities as well as Russian literature, Bazhanov said, adding that Xi's knowledge of Russia exceeds that of many other world leaders.

Anatoly Lukyanov, another sinologist who attended the meeting, agreed Xi has a deep understanding of the Russian culture.

Xi cited extensively the quotes of Russian literary giants during his speech, such as Alexander Pushkin, Mikhail Lermontov, Nikolai Gogol and Anton Chekhov, said Lukyanov, who heads the Center for Comprehensive Studies of the Civilizations in Northeast Asia at the Russian Academy of Sciences' Far East Institute

Xi also has a good mastery of Russian folk wisdom, philosophy, poetry and art, and this was clearly conveyed, the expert said.

It especially impressed Lukyanov that Xi's role model in his junior years was the protagonist in Russian philosopher Nikolay Chernyshevsky's novel "What Is to Be Done?", said Lukyanov.

As Bazhanov sees it, Xi is a reform-minded political leader. "There was heated debate about China's future development, but Xi made it clear that China could not move forward without further reforms. And everyone has seen Xi's efforts for continued reform after taking office."

The Chinese president also proposed the building of the Silk Road economic belt in a bid to boost cooperation along the ancient trade route.

Lukyanov believed that this proposal by Xi is of great significance for both China and the rest of the world.

It is not just a road of economy and trade but also a road of openness, which could engage different ethnic cultures along the route, said the expert.