Putin arrives in Beijing on a state visit

 Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived here today to take part in a regional security summit and hold talks with top Chinese leaders on various issues.

In addition to talks with President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister, Wen Jioabao, Putin is also scheduled to meet future Chinese leaders, Vice President Xi Jinping and Vice Premier Li Keqiang, who were tipped to succeed Hu and Wen.

Putin will also be among leaders attending the annual summit of the six-member Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a grouping of Russia, China and four Central Asian states seeking to boost regional cooperation, beginning tomorrow.

According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Putin chose China as one of the first nations to visit in his third term as president, which shows relations between Russia and China have reached unprecedented high levels.

Top leaders of the two countries are expected to discuss the expansion of bilateral cooperation in various fields, Lavrov said in an interview.

Officials from both Russia and China are going to sign a joint communique on relations and their entrepreneurs will sign a number of agreements, he said.