Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to meet late December to discuss cooperation, local media reported.
The meeting is unlikely to be held face-to-face and will instead be held online.
The two authoritarian heavyweights have a close relationship, with Putin calling Xi Jinping "dear friend". In 2019, Xi Jinping referred to Putin as his "best friend" and presented him with an honorary doctorate from Tsinghua University.
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2014, China has provided an economic lifeline to the country, positioning itself as an alternative market for Russian goods and a major customer for cheap Russian fuel.
This has been beneficial for both countries, as Russia has become increasingly reliant on China for its economic survival, while Beijing has remained neutral on the issue of increasing support for Moscow. Recent data shows that China is buying more of Russia's cheaper energy supplies.
