Russian PM Putin starts official visit to China

During the visit at the invitation of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Putin will attend the 16th regular meeting between the two countries' prime ministers.

Chinese President Hu Jintao and chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC) Wu Bangguo will meet Putin.

In a nearly two-hour discussion in Beijing Monday morning, Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan and his Russian counterpart Alexander Zhukov expressed willingness to explore new directions for bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

"In the next phase, China and Russia will make efforts to maintain the rapid growth of bilateral trade and improve trade structure," Wang said at the 15th meeting of the Joint Commission for the Regular Meetings of Heads of Government of China and Russia.

Zhukov said the two sides conducted candid and detailed discussions in economy and trade fields during the meeting, including bolstering bilateral customs cooperation, issues concerning Russia's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), and cooperation in long-range wide-body aircraft.

The regular meetings between Chinese and Russian prime ministers, first established in 1996, have become an important platform for guiding and coordinating bilateral cooperation.

Prior to his trip to China, Putin said the two countries "have enjoyed an unparalleled partnership" and that he believes the meetings with the Chinese leaders will see "a positive development" in bilateral relations; Kazinform cites Xinhua.

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