The Kremlin announced today that the visit of President Vladimir Putin to China is on the agenda, adding that now is the right time to strengthen the already strong relations that exist between Moscow and Beijing.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a regular press briefing that the date for the president’s trip would be announced when it was finalized.

“Now is the perfect time to maintain the high momentum in the development of bilateral Sino-Russian relations… The exact dates will be agreed upon and you will be informed. The dialogue continues at various levels,” he said.

Russia has further strengthened its economic, trade, political and military ties with China following its decision to send tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine, a move that has pushed relations with the West to their lowest level since Cold War.

During Putin’s planned trip to Beijing, Peskov said, the two presidents will focus on bilateral trade and economic cooperation as well as global issues.

“Based on the similarities in Moscow’s and Beijing’s vision of the essence of international relations…we have very, very good prospects for further discussions and, most importantly, constructive communication,” Peskov said.