Ties with Russia remain firm despite geopolitical pressures, the ruling Chinese Communist Party's official paper has said, a day before President Xi Jinping visits Moscow.
"The more volatile the world is, the more steadily China-Russia relations should move forward," a commentary published in the People's Daily said on Sunday.
Building a comprehensive strategic partnership was a long-term strategic choice made by both countries, the article said.
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It was key for China and Russia to maintain their long-standing, high-level contact and deepen strategic cooperation, to "safeguard common interests and maintain geopolitical stability", it added.
The article made no mention of Ukraine - invaded by Russia in February of last year. While China continues to push for peace, it has drawn criticism from the United States and its allies over its refusal to condemn the invasion.
Xi is due to begin a state visit to Moscow on Monday, his first overseas trip since securing a norm-breaking third term as president on March 10.
It also comes soon after Beijing brokered a surprise Iran-Saudi thaw after seven years, a diplomatic coup seen to highlight China's role as a global leadership alternative to the US.
The three-day trip at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin was a "visit of friendship, cooperation and peace", Beijing's foreign ministry said.
China and Russia pledged a "no limits" partnership on February 4 last year, when Putin visited as a guest of honour at the Beijing Winter Olympics. Just weeks later, Moscow sent tens of thousands of troops into eastern Ukraine.
In Moscow, Xi will have in-depth talks with Putin on "bilateral relations and major international and regional issues, jointly draw up a new blueprint for the future development of bilateral relations and promote the deepening of mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields," foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Friday.
The Kremlin said several key bilateral documents would be signed during the Chinese president's visit.
Meanwhile, Putin on Sunday paid a surprise visit to Mariupol, a Ukrainian port city occupied by Russian forces since last May.
That followed his unannounced visit to Crimea on Saturday, marking the ninth anniversary of Russia's annexation of the peninsula from Ukraine.