Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Sochi, Russia, Feb 6, 2014. Xi will attend the opening ceremony of the 22nd Winter Olympic Games, at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. [Photo/Xinhua]

SOCHI, Russia - Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping met his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, here Thursday for talks on bilateral ties.

During the meeting, their first this year, the two leaders are to exchange views on bilateral cooperation in large projects and people-to-people exchanges as well as on major global and regional issues.

Xi arrived in this Russian resort city earlier Thursday to attend the opening ceremony of the 22nd Winter Olympic Games. The three-day visit is his first foreign trip this year.

Talks between Xi and Putin are believed to mark a "good start" for the advancement of bilateral ties in 2014.