( CNN ) -- China 's President Xi Jinping 's choice of Moscow as his first foreign capital visit is being seen by analysts as a symbolic move that demonstrates the increasing interdependence of the one-time Cold War foes . From energy deals , trade and geo-politics , China and Russia have been in lock-step over a range of thorny international issues such as Syria , Iran and North Korea . A key element of the talks will be how to steer the future of the increasingly intertwined economies . Trade between Moscow and Beijing grew 11.6 % to a record $ 88.1 billion in 2012 , according to figures from the China Institute of International Relations . `` They want to move that to $ 100 billion in years to come - there 's also a sense that they will want to push the domestic agenda and the foreign policy agenda as well , '' said CNN 's David McKenzie . While China and Russia already form a powerful bloc on the U.N. Security Council , the warmer ties are also evidence of their perceived need to countervail a U.S.-led dominance in global affairs . `` In Putin , the Chinese see someone who is a counterbalance to America in some areas , '' said Professor Kerry Brown , executive director of the University of Sydney 's China Studies Center . `` Russia is nowhere near as big as it was before but at least they see someone who can provide at least a bit of triangulation between China and the U.S. '' Long-stalled talks on a Russia-China gas pipeline gas deal will likely top the agenda during Xi 's summit meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin . Vice-Foreign Minister Cheng Guoping and Russian ambassador to China Sergei Razov had recently struck a hopeful note in briefing in Beijing , saying that `` significant progress '' had been made and that both nations were looking forward to a breakthrough on the deal . Senior executives from state oil giants Petro China and Sinopec are accompanying Xi to Moscow where it is hoped the new Chinese president will give fresh impetus to pipeline talks . Nevertheless , the Russians have been cautious on the deal . `` On the Russian side , state media and others , are less confident that that deal will come through , '' McKenzie said . `` Certainly the Russians worry that this relationship will become more unequal over time . `` Russia 's own economy has stagnated somewhat not having the robust growth we 've seen in China . '' Cheng told a briefing that Russia and China would co-ordinate reactions to U.S. plans to boost its missile defense in the Asia-Pacific region to counter the possibility of a potential North Korean attack . While Chinese and Russian officials have hailed the 48-hour visit as a demonstration of ties which they say are at an historic high , Professor Brown said that relations between the formerly fractious neighbors was often driven more by expedience than any real convergence of interests . `` It 's hard to think of a more paranoid relationship in some ways : 1950s , very close ; 1960s , biggest enemies . There 's never really been a heart-to-heart moment in many ways . `` There 's a quite deep distrust on one hand but on the other hand a pragmatic acceptance that this is a big relationship . '' Xi and Putin will also likely compare notes ahead of the regional summit in South Africa next week of the BRICS group of developing economies : Brazil , Russia , India , China and South Africa . Even here , analysts say , China 's perception is that this bloc is heavily influenced by the U.S. `` The conviction in Beijing is that America is everywhere and they 've got to find other ways of exercising their interests without America being right up beside them , '' Professor Brown said .
Xi Jinping to his first foreign visit to Moscow on Saturday . The choice is symbolic and demonstrates warming ties between the two countries . Trade between the two countries reached $ 88.1 billion in 2014 . Officials hope Moscow and China will ink long - stalled infrastructure projects .