Top legislator Li Zhanshu will visit Russia next week, state media reported on Sunday, becoming the highest-ranking Communist Party politician to travel to the country since Moscow's military offensive in Ukraine began.

Li will pay official visits to Russia, Mongolia, Nepal and South Korea from Wednesday until September 17, according to the Xinhua news agency.

He will attend the Eastern Economic Forum due to be held over four days from Monday in Russia's far eastern city of Vladivostok, Xinhua reported. (AFP)