Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, is set to put his problems with Europe behind him for a few days on a visit to Beijing.
Putin hopes to return to Moscow with a slew of energy deals, including a pipeline gas supply deal with China for 38 billion cubic meters/year on May 20.
The two countries' gas giants, Gazprom and China National Petroleum Corporation, have already said they are in agreement on all the terms of a deal except the price, with both sides only prepared to concede that, not surprisingly, it would not be based on the US Henry Hub.