Moscow, Oct 26, SPA -- Russia's President Vladimir Putin onWednesday hosted China's visiting prime minister, hailingthe development of bilateral trade ties and the growingclout of a regional security group dominated by Moscow andBeijing, The Associated Press reported. Wen Jiababao was in Moscow for a meeting of the ShanghaiCooperation Organization, a security grouping that includesRussia, China and the ex-Soviet Central Asian nations ofKazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. "It's an organization that is gathering momentum andacquiring an increasing international weight," Putin saidof the group at the start of his meeting with Wen. The group called on the United States in July to set atimetable for withdrawing its forces from bases in CentralAsia _ a move reflecting the growing unease Moscow andBeijing feel about the U.S. presence in the strategicallyplaced, resource-rich region. Later that month, Uzbekistanhanded the U.S. forces a six-month eviction notice. During Wednesday's meeting with Wen, Putin also praisedthe growing economic ties between Russia and China. "We are very pleased with that, and we are sure that thisis not the limit," Putin said. Wen said that the trade volume this year was set to exceedearlier projections of US$28 billion (¤23 billion). Since the 1991 Soviet collapse, Moscow and Beijing havedeveloped what they call a strategic partnership, pledgingcommitment to a "multipolar world" _ a term thathighlights their opposition to U.S. domination in globalaffairs. In August, Russia and China held their first ever jointmilitary maneuvers that underscored growing bilateral military ties.--SPA1414 Local Time 1114 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/298826