Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay an official visit to Russia from March 20 to 22 at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin, and the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced today.

The visit comes as China has offered to mediate peace in Ukraine, an effort met with reservations in the West given Beijing’s diplomatic support for Russia.

“During the talks, local issues and the further development of relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between Russia and China will be discussed,” the Kremlin announced. “A number of important bilateral documents will be signed,” the same source added. The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced without further clarification that “at the invitation of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, President Xi Jinping will pay an official visit to Russia from March 20 to 22.”

China and Russia struck a “borderless” partnership in February 2022 when Putin visited Beijing for the opening of the Winter Olympics, weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine.

The two sides have since continued to highlight the strength of their ties. Trade between the two countries has increased since the invasion, and China is the largest buyer of Russian oil, a major source of revenue for Moscow.

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