China: Vladimir Putin visits Beijing, “carrying greater weights”

A Sino-Russian relation is on the gear.

Both presidents from China and Russia are on a meeting today in China’s capital of Beijing for a close strategic cooperative relationship, focusing more on the Syria issue. The two countries had been in a close diplomatic relation, which started last year that had helped resolved international issues.

Russian President Vladmir Putin will meet his Chinese counterpart President Hu Jintao to talk about the Syrian crisis, bilateral energy cooperation, and other international issues, according to smh.com.au. By Wednesday, Putin is scheduled to attend a two-day leaders' annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, including Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Last year, China opposed any international intervention in Syria. The People’s Daily newspaper in China said both countries opposed the Cold War-style alliance and they are building partnership based on equality and mutual respect.

Focusing on Syria crisis, the two countries favored UN envoy Kofi Annan's six-point plan, including the ceasefire, report says. Li Baodong, China’s ambassador to the UN had already called for an investigation regarding the Houla massacre last week in war-torn Syria. If proven that Assad’s troop was behind the horrible incident, where more than 100 people have died including children, a tougher sanction is expected to be imposed.

On bilateral trade, the nations have set a goal to reach $200 billion by 2020 from the current volume of $80 billion plus strengthening of inter-bank cooperation. Another agenda would be on energy cooperation, where a major project on natural gas deal will be dealt.

The Xinhua news agency said this is Putin’s first visit in the country under his new kremlin mandate since he was elected in May.