Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin watches the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 8, 2008 at the National Stadium in Beijing. A thundering display of fireworks exploded over the "Bird's Nest" stadium in the shape of a blossoming red flower as China put its rich history on full display in a breathtaking opening ceremony. Getty Images logo Getty Images 15 months ago

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin watches the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 8, 2008 at the National Stadium in Beijing. A thundering display of fireworks exploded over the "Bird's Nest" stadium in the shape of a blossoming red flower as China put its rich history on full display in a breathtaking opening ceremony.

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  1. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  2. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  3. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao (not pictured) at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  4. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) shakes hands with Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  5. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) shakes hands with Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  6. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) attends talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  7. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) attends talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  8. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) and Wu Bangguo, Chairman of China's National People's Congress attend talks at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  9. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) and Wu Bangguo, Chairman of China's National People's Congress attend talks at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  10. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) and Wu Bangguo, Chairman of China's National People's Congress shake hands at the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks, in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  11. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) and Wu Bangguo, Chairman of China's National People's Congress shake hands at the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks, in Beijing October 14, 2009. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  12. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (2nd L) and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) attend a signing ceremony of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing October 14, 2009. The SCO is a grouping of central Asian states. China and Russia signed a pact to notify each other of ballistic missile launch plans during Putin's visit this week to Beijing, Chinese media said on Wednesday.
  13. Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (C) arrives at Beijing airport October 12, 2009, for his three-day visit to China. Russian firms plan to sign over $5.5 billion worth of deals with their Chinese partners during the visit of Putin to Beijing , Putin's deputy told Reuters in an interview. To match interview RUSSIA-CHINA/PUTIN.
  14. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (C) smiles as the head of the Italian carmaker Fiat Sergio Marchionne (L) and the head of state of industrial corporation Sergei Chemezov shake hands while exchanging documents during their meeting in Moscow October 8, 2009.
  15. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) and the head of the Italian carmaker Fiat Sergio Marchionne meet for talks in Moscow October 8, 2009.
  16. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) and the head of the Italian carmaker Fiat Sergio Marchionne meet for talks in Moscow October 8, 2009.

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