MOSCOW, Oct 27: China’s heir apparent Hu Jintao, the little known vice president being groomed to take over as leader from Jiang Zemin next year, stepped onto the world stage on Saturday, launching a visit to Russia and Europe.

Hu sped straight to the Kremlin after his arrival in the Russian capital for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, who returned only last week from a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders in Shanghai.

“Russia is a great country and the Russian people a great people,” Hu told the Russian leader. “This is my first visit to Russia, but it is not an unknown country for me.”

Hu, who was named Jiang’s successor by late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping, will also visit Britain, France, Germany and Spain on a two-week trip.

He makes his diplomatic debut at a time when the world is focussed on the repercussions of the attacks on the United States, and his performance will be keenly watched for hints on China’s role in an anti-terror coalition.

The trip, planned before the Sept 11 attacks, is designed to establish his credentials abroad as the future leader of a nation seeking to punch its weight on the modern world stage for the first time.

Colleagues and potential rivals back home will also be watching to see how he handles himself.

The attacks on the United States may also test a new strategic relationship between Moscow and Beijing that both countries have been touting over the past year.

Hu will be the third senior Chinese official to visit Russia in four months. Jiang and Putin signed a friendship pact in July, advancing a relationship based largely on mutual opposition to US plans for a missile defence system.

Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongji visited Russia in Sept to boost trade ties.—Reuters