Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing this evening for a 3-day official visit to China. This is his first official visit to China since he took office as prime minister in last May. During the visit, Putil will hold talks with Chinese leaders. <br/><br/>He will also attend the 14th bilateral prime ministers' regular meeting and the eighth prime ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states. The SCO groups China, Russia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Mongolia, India, Iran and Pakistan are observers of the regional organisation.<br/>