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Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will visit Beijing on October 11-12 to talk Russian-Chinese bilateral ties and to sign an intergovernmental memorandum on co-operation in the modernization of the two economies.

This will become Putin’s first trip abroad since he announced his plan to run for the presidency in March 2012 and, considering his rather high approval rating among the population, it is likely that he will return to the Kremlin for at least six years.

In Beijing, the premier will be accompanied by an army of top Russian businessmen and officials. During the two-day visit, Putin will participate in the 16th regular meeting of the heads of the two governments and meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao. The sides are expected to discuss a bunch of topics ranging from economy and science to technical and humanitarian co-operation.

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.