BEIJING, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping left here Saturday morning for an official visit to Russia, Belarus, Finland and Sweden.

Xi, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau, will attend the inauguration of the Year of Chinese Language in Russia, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Xi makes the trip from March 20 to 30, as guest of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who is also chairman of the United Russian, Belarusian President Alexander Kukashenko, Finnish President Tarja Halonen and Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt.

Xi's entourage include senior officials from the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, Ministry of Education, Foreign Ministry, National Development and Reform Commission, China Development Bank, Ministry of Commerce, Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee.