Mishustin arrived late Monday night in Shanghai, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. He was welcomed by Russian Ambassador to China Igor Morgulov as well as Chinese Ambassador to Moscow Zhang Hanhui.
In Shanghai, the Russian prime minister is scheduled to attend a Russia-China business forum and visit a petrochemical research institute, according to the Kremlin, and also hold talks with "representatives of Russian business circles" in China.
The forum invited a number of Russian businessmen targeted by Western sanctions, particularly in the key sectors of steel, mining and fertilizers, as well as Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Alexander Novak, according to Bloomberg.
China last year became Russia's largest energy customer, allowing Moscow, under Western sanctions linked to the war in Ukraine, to avoid seeing its gas exports collapse.
An AFP photographer on Tuesday noted a heavy police presence around the Russian consulate in Shanghai and the conference center where the economic forum is held.
Mikhail Mishustin will travel to Beijing on Wednesday, where he will meet President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, according to Russia's state news agency Tass.
China and Russia have increased economic cooperation and diplomatic contacts in recent years.
Their strategic partnership has been further strengthened since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with analysts saying China now has the upper hand in this relationship, given Russia's isolation on the international stage.
Beijing says it is neutral in this conflict and has never publicly condemned the invasion.
In February, the Chinese government issued a document calling for a "political settlement" of the conflict and respect for the territorial integrity of all countries – including Ukraine.
At a March summit in Moscow, President Xi invited his counterpart Vladimir Putin to come to Beijing.
© 2023 AFP