Putin and Xi Discuss Power of Siberia 2 Gas Pipeline During Talks in China

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to put the proposed Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline near the top of their agenda during talks in China this week, according to the Kremlin and reporting cited by Asharq Al-Awsat. The project has become a key symbol of the deepening energy relationship between Moscow and Beijing at a time when Russia is trying to redirect more of its oil and gas exports toward Asia after Western sanctions cut it off from much of Europe.

Power of Siberia 2 is planned as a major natural gas pipeline that would carry gas from Russia’s Arctic and western Siberian fields through Mongolia to China. If built, it would significantly expand Russia’s ability to sell gas to the world’s largest energy importer and would help China secure additional long-term supplies as it balances rising energy demand with its push for greater energy security. The pipeline has been under discussion for years, but it has not yet moved into full construction because key commercial and political terms have remained unresolved.

The topic matters because both countries see energy as a central pillar of their broader partnership. Russia has increasingly relied on China as a buyer for its fuel exports since the invasion of Ukraine and the sanctions that followed, while China has become Russia’s largest trading partner and a crucial source of revenue for its energy sector. Officials and state media in both countries have emphasized that the relationship has grown stronger despite “unfavorable external factors,” a reference to Western pressure on Moscow and wider disruptions in global energy markets.

According to the Kremlin, Putin and Xi are set to discuss “all areas of bilateral relations” during the visit, with energy cooperation among the most important items. In addition to the pipeline, the two sides are also expected to review trade, infrastructure, and other strategic projects. The agenda reflects a broader effort by both governments to show that their ties remain steady and mutually beneficial, even as tensions with the West continue.

For China, the pipeline would add another layer of supply diversification at a time when Beijing is trying to reduce vulnerability to shipping chokepoints and external shocks. For Russia, it would represent a long-term outlet for gas that can no longer easily reach its traditional European customers. What happens next will likely depend on whether Moscow and Beijing can settle pricing, financing, and route details that have delayed the project in the past.