Moscow, Jumada I 11, 1434, Mar 23, 2013, SPA - The new Chinese president has told students in Moscow that strong ties between China and Russia provide a strategic balance in the world. Xi Jinping spoke before a full auditorium at the prestigious Moscow State Institute for International Relations on Saturday, the second day of a trip that is his first outside the country since becoming president last week. Xi told students "strong high-level Chinese-Russian ties not only meet our interests, but serve as an important, reliable guarantee of international strategic balance and peace." He said that during his talks on Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin they "agreed to strengthen mutual support." Xi also met with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev Saturday, according to a report of the Associated Press. --SPA 14:12 LOCAL TIME 11:12 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/1090518