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At the invitation of Premier Wen Jiabao, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will pay an official visit to China on October 11-12, 2011, to further consolidate bilateral ties, and in particular, to ratchet up "pragmatic cooperation" with China, some analysts noted. During his visit in Beijing, Putin will participate in the 16th regular meeting between the two governments.

Leading a 160-member delegation including top business leaders, Putin will kick start his first trip abroad Tuesday after announcing his planned return to the Kremlin in 2012.

He and Wen will probably talk with reporters after meeting and officiating at the signing of bilateral agreements. A meeting has also been scheduled between Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Hu Jintao.

In the mean time, both parties plan to discuss a wide range of topics on economic, scientific-technical and humanitarian cooperation issues. Special attention will be paid to improving the structure of bilateral trade, investment cooperation, high-tech cooperation and long-term energy projects. The leaders will also exchange views on current issues in international and regional agenda.

China's railways carried a record total of 67.3 million passengers from Sept 28 to Oct 7, as many Chinese went on a travelling spree for the weeklong National Day holiday, the Ministry of Railways (MOR) said Saturday.

The figure was up 5.8 percent over the same period last year, with a daily record of 8.9 million passengers boarding trains on Oct 1, or National Day, the ministry said.

The collapsed construction site in the city of Dalian in Northeast China's Liaoning province, Oct 8, 2011.

Rescue team retrieved three bodies early Sunday morning from a collapsed construction site in the city of Dalian in Northeast China's Liaoning province, bringing the accident's death toll to 12, according to the local emergency command center.

The Tour of Beijing will mark China's first top-level stage race and a step forward for cycling's governing body when it starts on Wednesday (October 5). Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) president Pat McQuaid sees the event as part of the globalisation of professional cycling, and defended the UCI's close relationship with the race's organiser.

"It's not an awkward position," said McQuaid in a press conference. "It is the UCI's role to promote and develop the sport."

It is the first time that UCI has organised a stage race, which it is doing via Global Cycling Promotion (GCP). GCP is legally separate from the UCI, but ties are close thanks to Alain Rumpf. Rumpf formerly managed the UCI's ProTour and keeps his office at UCI's Aigle headquarters. He sat beside McQuaid in the conference today.