U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will visit Beijing on Friday and Saturday, at the invitation of China's Foreign Minister, Wang Yi. The two sides are expected to discuss China-U.S. relations and other issues, such as China's continuing disputes with Japan. 

It's John Kerry's second visit to China as U.S. Secretary of State.

He's a on a four nation tour that's already taken him to Seoul. He’ll later head to Jakarta and Abu Dhabi.

Experts say there's a lot on his agenda.

"He has to talk to the leadership, and talk about the China-Japan relationship, also US concerns about the freedom of navigation in the south China Sea, about China and other ASEAN countries' maritime disputes. These issues will make the visit a very difficult one," Professor Xie Tao of Beijing Foreign Studies University said.

The visit comes at a time of increased tension between China and Japan.

Many analysts think Kerry's major aim is to try to ease that tension.

"I think Kerry's message, perhaps, to the Chinese leaders is that Americans want to reign in the Japanese. And they want the Chinese to understand, and probably a little patient about Japanese domestic politics. I think the Americans and the Japanese understand that if they have a conflict with China, Americans will be inevitably be dragged into the war. That's the last thing Americans want to see," Xie said.

Some analysts are also looking at the positive aspects of Kerry's visit.

Last June, President Xi Jinping and US President Barack Obama vowed to build a new type of "big power relationship" to maximize cooperation and effectively manage differences.

Analysts say John Kerry will try to pick up on that promise, and discuss ways of putting it into practice.

"The exchanges are also expected to lay important foundations for Obama's visit and his attendance at the APEC summit in Beijing this autumn," Ruan Zongze, Deputy Director of China Institute of International Studies, said.

China's top leaders will be meeting with John Kerry on Friday. Earlier this week, the U.S. State Department said John Kerry will relay the message that the United States is committed to pursuing a positive, cooperative, comprehensive relationship and welcomes the rise of a peaceful and prosperous China that plays a positive role in world affairs. The State Department also said the two sides would talk about regional issues including the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and U.S.-China collaboration on climate change and clean energy.?