Beijing, Dhu-AlQa'dah 13, 1432, Oct 11, 2011, SPA - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Tuesday for talks that were expected to focus on trade, energy and global affairs. Wen hosted a welcome ceremony for Putin at Beijing's Great Hall of the People before the talks, state media said. China's Foreign Ministry said Putin, who arrived earlier Tuesday for a two-day visit, was also scheduled to meet President Hu Jintao and Wu Bangguo, the official number two in China's ruling Communist Party. The two sides planned to sign several agreements worth about US $7 billion, Russia's Itar-Tass news agency quoted Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov as saying. The pacts cover cooperation in energy-saving technology, high-speed railways, nanotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and the development of fast-neutron nuclear reactors, the agency said. --SPA 14:15 LOCAL TIME 11:15 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/933190