economic cooperation, WTO membership, terrorism Moscow, Sept 24, SPA -- President Vladimir Putin met China's primeminister Friday as China seeks to secure a steady supply ofRussian oil imports and Moscow seeks Beijing's backing inits bid for membership in the World Trade Organization. Talks on fighting terrorism were also expected to top themeeting between Wen Jiabao and Putin. "The government of China firmly supports your firmposition and efforts ... that you are directing at thefight against terrorism," Wen said before meetings beganin the Kremlin. "We are deeply convinced that under yourleadership ... your country will overcome recentdifficulties and will achieve stability, peace, economicgrowth and progress." Putin noted that relations were developing "in the bestpossible way" and trade between the two countries wasexpected to top US$20 billion this year. Military andtechnological cooperation was "unprecedented," he said,and demonstrated the "quality of intergovernmentalrelations." Wen's visit already has yielded progress in the energysphere: the head of Russia's state-owned railroad networkannounced Thursday that a Chinese oil company would pay foroil deliveries by rail from the embattled oil company Yukosfor October.--more1415 Local Time 1115 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/204567