MOSCOW. Feb 3 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin will have bilateral negotiations with Chinese President Xi Jinping and the prime ministers Shinzo Abe of Japan and Recep Erdogan of Turkey in Sochi.
Putin will arrive in Sochi on February 4, the Kremlin press service reported. In Sochi, he will visit the Olympic facilities and will have several bilateral meetings.
"The central event of this trip will be the opening by the Russian president of the 2014 12th Winter Olympics in Sochi. The ceremony will take place at 8:14 p.m. Moscow time on February 7," the Kremlin press service reported.
A total of 40,000 viewers will gather at the Fisht Olympic Stadium. Over 3 billion people will be able to see the opening ceremony on television. "The heads of over forty foreign countries and governments will attend the ceremony," the Kremlin said.
Some sixty foreign leaders are expected to visit the Olympic and Paralympic events. Before the opening ceremony, an official reception will be conducted in honor of the foreign guests on behalf of the Russian president.
While in Sochi, the Russian president is expected to speak at the opening ceremony of the 126th session of the International Olympic Committee.
"On February 5, the Russian president will visit the coastal Olympic village and take part in the Russian Olympic Committee's delegation's welcoming ceremony, during which the flag of the Russian Federation will be raised," the press service reported.
Putin is also expected to talk to members of the Russian national team and examine the infrastructure of the Olympic village.
"On February 6, Putin will have negotiations with Chinese President Xi Jinping," the Kremlin said.
During this visit, Putin is also expected to meet with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Putin is also expected to meet with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev, and some other foreign leaders.