Visit advances friendship

RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER VLADIMIR PUTIN IS ON a tight schedule after his arrival in Beijing on Tuesday for a two-day official visit to China. But his visit will bear fruitful results in expanding both the width and depth of bilateral cooperation and further cementing the long tradition of Sino-Russian friendship.

The visit has drawn global interest, as it is Putin's first foreign trip since he revealed plans to reclaim Russia's presidency last month and the visit signals that the two neighbors, as two important players on the world stage, are determined to work closely on bilateral and international issues.

Leading a 250-member delegation, including top business leaders, Putin is witnessing the signing of a series of agreements on bilateral trade and participating in the 16th regular meeting between the two countries' premiers.