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Medvedev makes key visit to China New Russian leader visits China
(about 9 hours later)
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is continuing his first official foreign tour since taking office with a visit to ally - and rival - China. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has arrived in Beijing as he continues his first official foreign tour.
Mr Medvedev will meet President Hu Jintao and other leaders for talks that are expected to focus mainly on trade. Mr Medvedev, 42, who took office this month, will meet President Hu Jintao and other leaders for a two-day visit expected to focus mainly on trade.
Russia and China have built close political ties over recent years, and trade, especially, is booming. Russia and China have built close ties over recent years and trade is booming.
Mr Medvedev also visited Kazakhstan, which he urged to keep exporting most of its oil through Russian pipelines. Mr Medvedev arrived after visiting Kazakhstan, which he urged to keep exporting most of its oil through Russian pipelines.
Major opportunities "Our foreign policy should be reasonable, pragmatic and at the same time friendly and open," Mr Medvedev told Chinese journalists before his arrival.
Whether it is in sport, technology, business or culture, Russia and China are enjoying a boom in mutual relations. "And we absolutely include China among our most important foreign policy partners."
Trade between them has grown rapidly over recent years, with China emerging as Russia's second largest trading partner after the European Union. Trade between Russia and China has grown rapidly over recent years, with China emerging as Russia's second largest trading partner after the European Union.
China's own economic success, the huge population, and the resulting demand for energy, mean major opportunities for Russian state energy corporations. BBC Russia analyst Steven Eke says China's own economic success, its huge population, and the resulting demand for energy, spell major opportunities for Russian state energy corporations.
Medvedev looks East on first tripMedvedev looks East on first trip
There is an important political dimension to Sino-Russian co-operation, too. He says an important political dimension to Sino-Russian co-operation is a rejection of American dominance.
At its heart is a rejection of American global dominance. Under the previous Russian President, Vladimir Putin, Russia and China moved to cement their ties through the creation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
Russia and China may both be criticised by the West for aspects of internal policy - such as Tibet or Chechnya - but both countries insist such matters are fundamentally internal affairs.
Under the previous Russian President, Vladimir Putin, Russia and China tried to cement this political vision through the creation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
They were joined by four of the Central Asian countries.They were joined by four of the Central Asian countries.
Dismissed at first as a talking shop, the organisation has evolved into a genuine forum for economic co-operation, intelligence sharing and counter-terrorism. The organisation has evolved into a forum for economic co-operation, intelligence-sharing and counter-terrorism.
Despite all this, many Russians are wary of China's emergence as such a formidable regional power, threatening to overshadow traditional Russian dominance. Despite all this, our correspondent says many Russians are wary of China's emergence as such a formidable regional power, threatening to overshadow traditional Russian dominance.
That said, Mr Medvedev is assured a warm, unquestioning welcome in China.
What might be more challenging is his forthcoming maiden visit as president to the West.
Mr Medvedev is due in Germany in early June to see Chancellor Angela Merkel, a leader sometimes outspoken in her criticism of Russia.Mr Medvedev is due in Germany in early June to see Chancellor Angela Merkel, a leader sometimes outspoken in her criticism of Russia.