Shoigu’s visit to China is reportedly a one-day trip. Read also: Chinese companies 'developing' Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine — NV analysis He is expected to discuss the “bilateral agenda” and various international “issues.

China and Russia need to continue to strengthen coordination in international and regional affairs, President Xi Jinping told Sergei Shoigu, the secretary of Russia's Security Council, in Beijing on Friday,

Chinese President Xi Jinping told senior Kremlin aide Sergei Shoigu on Friday that the two countries were "true friends like steel repeatedly tempered by fire", according to state broadcaster CCTV. "Both sides should continue to strengthen their coordination in international and regional matters,

US attempts to sow discord between China and Russia were "doomed to fail", Beijing said on Thursday, after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared to outline Washington's strategy to dilute ties between the two nuclear-powered neighbours.

US President Donald Trump's efforts to improve relations with Russia are expected to influence Moscow's connections with China. Although a stronger US-Russia relationship may affect the dynamics of the Russia-China partnership,

China pushed back against recent remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, declaring that Washington could never "sow discord" in its ties with Moscow. Newsweek reached out to the White House and the Russian Foreign Ministry via email for comment.

China enjoys a close relationship with Russia. Weeks prior to Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the two reaffirmed the “no limits” partnership first mentioned by Beijing in 2021. Nato considers China a “decisive enabler” of the Kremlin’s war effort, with Beijing providing critical support to Moscow’s defence industrial base.