Tap potential for more tie-ups

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is on a three-day visit to China and due to attend a heads of government meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) members today.

The first visit to China by Putin as Russia's prime minister, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, marks a crucial step towards consolidating Sino-Russian strategic cooperative partnership.

China and Russia have witnessed smooth development of their ties this year. During President Hu Jintao's visit to Russia this summer, the two heads of state made a review on the 13-year-long history of the partnership and mapped out directions for further development of their ties in the years ahead.