We begin in the Russian city of Vladivostok, where the 4th Eastern Economic Forum is underway. Chinese President Xi Jinping is among the high-level participants and today he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The three-day event is expected to boost trade and economic relations among Asian nations. Our correspondent Aljosa Milenkovic reports from the city.

A jumbo jet emblazoned with the Chinese flag, taxiing just after landing at Vladivostok International Airport.

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives for a third meeting this year with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

This visit comes ahead of the fourth Eastern Economic Forum as well as VOSTOK-2018, a joint war drill involving the Russian and Chinese militaries.

At Far Eastern Federal University on Russky Island, the two presidents shook hands and exchanged greetings, before meeting behind closed doors.

XI JINPING CHINESE PRESIDENT "First of all, I thank you for your warm invitation. I am grateful to be able to visit this city again. Eight years ago, I visited here as Vice President of the People's Republic of China. Today I am on this land again and I can feel big changes in this city. I get the sense that the changes in these eight years are largely thanks to your personal leadership. It highlights the great achievements made in building Russia. I am genuinely glad for your successes."

And Vladivostok did change dramatically in those 8 years.

Thanks to its geographic position, it has benefited from outstanding trade opportunities with neighboring China, as well as with nearby South Korea and Japan.

Those benefits are among the topics up for discussion by delegations from 60 countries here at the Forum.

Russian President Vladimir Putin promises state support for the most important projects.

VLADIMIR PUTIN RUSSIAN PRESIDENT "We are ready to support the best and most well-thought-out projects from big corporations and small and medium-sized business. Federal and regional authorities of the Far East are inclined to do so.”

Putin confirms that Russia is very interested in developing its Far Eastern regions. 

ALJOSA MILENKOVIC VLADIVOSTOK "The attendance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and his meeting with Russian counterpart, President Putin, was the most important event of Eastern Economic Forum's first day. And after that bilateral meeting, the two presidents met with the governors of a number of Chinese provinces and Russian regions, in order to kickstart their direct cross-border cooperation."

The fourth Eastern Economic Forum continues Wednesday in Vladivostok with more activities for its business participants as well as for both presidents.

Aljosa Milenkovic, CGTN, Vladivostok.