Putin in China on a state visit

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Shanghai ahead of the summit, which aims to deepen ties between Russia and China. The two countries will make "substantive" statements and sign important agreements, Xinhua reported.

The countries are also planning to start joint military exercises with the participation of their navies. The summit comes at a time when Russia and China face criticism over disputes in Ukraine and the South China Sea.

The Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia attracted delegations from nearly 40 countries and international organizations. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and the leaders of Iran, Pakistan, Kazakhstan and Cambodia will also participate. Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to make an announcement at the Asia Security Summit.

The visit marks Putin's first trip to China since President Xi took office. In an interview with Chinese media prior to his arrival, Putin called China a "reliable friend of Russia" and said the two countries have reached a new stage in bilateral economic and military ties.

China is Russia's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade flows of $ 90 billion in 2013, and both neighbors aim to double the volume to $ 200 billion by the end of the decade, according to news agencies. Air Force's John Sudworth said Russia is also seeking an energy deal to supply gas to China, given Russia's current problems in Europe.