Chinese President Xi Jinping is arriving in Moscow for a three-day state visit to Russia, aimed towards fostering peace amid the war in Ukraine.
Even though China's state media reports have downplayed the chances of any significant breakthroughs emerging from Xi's talks with Putin and his call with the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, China remains willing to act as a peace broker for Ukraine.
The Chinese government has cast Xi's visit to Russia as a 'trip for peace' following Beijing talks, which resulted in a significant agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Last month, China issued a 12-point framework for ending the fighting in Ukraine.
However, reports note that the gulf between Moscow and Kyiv is much wider than the one between Riyadh and Tehran, implying challenges China will face in this regard.
Xi's visit to Russia will likely touch upon a variety of topics, including global matters like the ongoing trade war with the US, the US anti-Iran campaign, and Venezuela.
At the core of the summit between Xi and Putin is the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine, which has become one of the most significant sources of tension in the post-Cold War world.
Experts believe that Russia will be keen to capitalise on China's interest in a coordinated approach to Ukraine, while also allowing Xi to demonstrate China's ability to play a significant role in resolving complex international conflicts.
While Xi's meeting with Putin will primarily focus on strengthening their strategic partnership, some worry this could also add to NATO's concerns.
His visit to Moscow will be another milestone in building the "closest possible" economic and political ties between Russia and China.
Nonetheless, China's priorities are clear, said Jean-Pierre Cabestan, a professor of political science at Hong Kong Baptist University: "China wants to use Ukraine as a lever to improve its relations with both Russia and Ukraine while ignoring the West's position".