Russia has high hopes for President Putin's visit to China

Russia has high hopes for President Vladimir Putin's visit to China this week, and the two sides will use it to develop their "special partnership," the Kremlin said on Monday.

President Putin will visit China on Tuesday and Wednesday, less than a week after a visit by US President Donald Trump who held talks with President Xi Jinping.

"We have very serious expectations for this visit," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, launching Al Arabiya from Reuters (18/5).

The so-called "limitless" partnership between China and Russia, the world's largest producers of natural resources, has strengthened since the West imposed sanctions to punish Russia for the war in Ukraine.

"We and our Chinese friends call it a very special and strategic partnership," Peskov said.

"The Russian delegation will include deputy prime ministers, government ministers and heads of relevant companies," he said.

Peskov was asked if there were plans to discuss the proposed Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, which could one day flow an additional 50 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas per year from Russia's Arctic gas fields through Mongolia to China.

"All issues on the agenda of our bilateral economic relations will certainly be discussed," Peskov replied.