MOSCOW/BEIJING, August 7 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin left for Beijing Thursday to attend Friday's Olympic opening ceremony in the Chinese capital.
During his two-day visit Putin will meet members of Russia's Olympic squad and is expected to hold talks with U.S. President George Bush, and Chinese President Hu Jintao, as well as other Chinese leaders.
The Olympic torch, which was first lit in Athens on March 24, was carried by torch bearer and test pilot Li Zhonghua along the Great Wall of China Thursday on the final stage of its 85,000-mile-long (136,000 km) journey before arriving at the Beijing National Stadium on Friday.
The Olympic Games will take place August 8-24. (PHOTO)
