Russian President Vladimir Putin will arrive in China later today, and will also attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit this weekend in Qingdao. This will be his first foreign visit since being re-elected earlier this year. CGTN's Aljosa Milenkovic is in Moscow, hears what some people are saying ahead of Putin's visit to China.  

The world is changing is the most common phrase heard on the streets of Moscow when speaking to locals about the country's foreign affairs.

According to them, the role of the East is ever growing and in that light strategic partnership between China and Russia is seen as a significant and pivotal point for their country. Among the ordinary people in Moscow, China is regarded as the most important neighbor and a friend.

VASILIY HRISTIY MOSCOW RESIDENT "Yes, they are our friends. They are different, have a different mentality, but of course, all people are different, but they are our neighbors and our friends."

MARIYA MOSCOW RESIDENT "We are, of course, friends, because we have a deep history of international relations and we have a lot of perspectives. Both Russia and China are huge countries, with rich cultures, and we need to collaborate. We can learn a lot from each other."

ALJOSA MILENKOVIC MOSCOW "Vasiliy and Mariya are just two of many people that we've interviewed here on the streets of Moscow. And they've just shared the common opinion of all the others we spoke with. Vladimir Putin's visit to China for them is just a continuation of country's foreign policy that they approve."

Although the reason for the visit is the SCO summit, a meeting between the leaders of China and Russia is not uncommon.

DMITRY KOSYREV, ANALYST ROSSIYA SEGODNYA NEWS AGENCY "At this moment, communication between China and Russia is on a daily basis. There are regular phone calls and meetings. When some major and dramatic changes are happening in the world, like now in Asia, Russia and China communicate. So, there is no doubt that this time Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin will have something to talk about, especially on what to do with the situation concerning Korea."

On and off and on again situation with the Trump - Kim Jong Un meeting will for sure be on the table when presidents Xi Jinping and Putin meet. But, as the experts are saying, besides North Korea issue, there are high expectations about India's position at the Qingdao summit, particularly after the recent unofficial visit of PM Nerendra Modi to President Putin in Sochi. Aljosa Milenkovic, CGTN, Moscow.