Russian President Putin attends welcoming ceremony in Beijing

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) and Russian President Vladimir Putin inspect a military honor guard during a welcoming ceremony in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on June 5, 2012. Presidents from Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran are in China's capital for the 12th meeting of the Council of the Heads of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit. Putin is beginning a three-day visit to China, with energy and foreign policy expected to dominate the agenda. UPI/Stephen Shaver