BEIJING: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met here Tuesday with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, who is on his first official visit to China since taking office in May 2008.

Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) shakes hands with China's Premier Wen Jiabao as they exchange documents during a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing October 13, 2009. [Agencies]

Wen hosted a welcome ceremony for Putin at the Great Hall of the People before their private talks and a larger session involving ministerial officials from both sides.

At the start of the larger session, Wen said Putin's visit at the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-Russian ties was of great significance.

Bilateral relations have become stable and mature since the forging of diplomatic ties 60 years ago and particularly the establishment of the Russia-China strategic cooperative partnership in 1996, Wen said.

The level of political mutual trust, strategic and practical cooperation between the two countries has been improved continuously and yielded many achievements, which effectively advances the development of bilateral ties and positively influences the world's peace and development, he said.

Sino-Russian relations are role models of relations between neighboring countries and relations between big powers, said Wen, adding that China is willing to work with Russia to make greater achievements in the future.

Putin warmly congratulated the 60th anniversary of the founding of New China, saying China has achieved great success in various areas in the past 60 years.

Russia and China have become genuine and comprehensive strategic and cooperative partners in recent years, he said.

The two sides have carried out cooperation in politics, economy and international affairs with mutual trust, and the bilateral economic cooperation has withstood the test of the global financial crisis, Putin said.

The two prime ministers are expected to be present at an agreement signing ceremony and a press conference after the talks.

In the evening, they are scheduled to address a gathering to celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.