Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday hosted China's visiting prime minister, hailing the development of bilateral trade ties and the growing clout of a regional security group dominated by Moscow and Beijing, The Associated Press reported. Wen Jiababao was in Moscow for a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a security grouping that includes Russia, China and the ex-Soviet Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. "It's an organization that is gathering momentum and acquiring an increasing international weight," Putin said of the group at the start of his meeting with Wen. The group called on the United States in July to set a timetable for withdrawing its forces from bases in Central Asia _ a move reflecting the growing unease Moscow and Beijing feel about the U.S. presence in the strategically placed, resource-rich region. Later that month, Uzbekistan handed the U.S. forces a six-month eviction notice. During Wednesday's meeting with Wen, Putin also praised the growing economic ties between Russia and China. "We are very pleased with that, and we are sure that this is not the limit," Putin said. Wen said that the trade volume this year was set to exceed earlier projections of US$28 billion (¤23 billion). Since the 1991 Soviet collapse, Moscow and Beijing have developed what they call a strategic partnership, pledging commitment to a "multipolar world" _ a term that highlights their opposition to U.S. domination in global affairs. In August, Russia and China held their first ever joint military maneuvers that underscored growing bilateral military ties.
