Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has arrived in Russia to discuss issues of mutual importance with his counterpart Dmitry Medvedev and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The two countries are seeking to deepen their strategic partnership. Li arrived in Saint Petersburg on Sunday and is officially set to meet Medvedev on Monday.

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The two countries are expected to sign cooperation agreements in several areas such as investments and economy. Cooperation on nuclear energy is also on the agenda.

Li and Medvedev are also expected to attend the 21^st regular meeting Prime Ministers of the two countries.

The Chinese Premier will then sit down for talks with President Putin in the country's capital, Moscow.

Li had earlier paid visits to Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Latvia before his stop in Russia on the last leg of his Eurasia tour.

China's latest diplomatic forays are seen to be hugely significant as they could lead to the strengthening of ties between the five countries.

Analysts believe that ties between China and Russia will now go beyond economics and politics, moving on to military-political alliance.

Earlier this year, during a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the formation of an alliance "before which NATO would be weak, and this would put to an end the imperialist ambitions of the west."

Moscow and Beijing have held joint military drills in recent years in the disputed South China Sea. 

The US has waded into the row to show force against China, and the presence of its warships in the region has been a source of concern for Beijing and Moscow.

Tagschina, Russia, South China Sea, China-Russia partnership, China-Russia cooperation