During his two-day visit to the Chinese capital, Putin will meet members of Russia's Olympic team and is expected to hold talks with U.S. President George Bush. He is also due to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao, as well as other Chinese leaders.
Putin is also expected to meet with the president of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, to discuss preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, to be held in Russia's Black Sea resort city of Sochi.
According to various sources, the Beijing Games will be attended by the heads of 85 countries and about ten monarchs. In all, 205 national teams comprising 16,000 athletes will compete for medals.
The Beijing Games are expected to attract a record television audience of some four billion people.(PHOTOS)
