Russia eyes China gas pipeline breakthrough as Putin heads to Beijing amid global energy turmoil – Firstpost

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to hold high-stakes talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing this week, as Moscow looks to use turmoil in global energy markets caused by the West Asia conflict to push forward the long-delayed Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline project, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday.

Putin’s visit comes at a crucial moment for Russia’s economy and its strategic partnership with China. Moscow is increasingly dependent on Beijing for trade, technology and energy exports as Western sanctions linked to the Ukraine war continue to isolate the Russian economy.

According to Bloomberg News, Russian officials believe disruptions linked to the conflict in Iran and fears over the security of the Strait of Hormuz may encourage China to move faster on negotiations over gas pricing and supply terms for the proposed Power of Siberia 2 pipeline.

The pipeline, which would transport Russian gas from Siberia to China through Mongolia, has been under discussion for years but has repeatedly stalled over pricing disagreements and contract terms.

The gas pipeline project is “on the agenda, and we’re committed to discussing it seriously,” Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters ahead of the summit.

Putin and Xi are expected to hold formal talks on Wednesday, followed by an extended private meeting later in the evening. The Russian delegation includes senior ministers, deputy prime ministers, central bank governor Elvira Nabiullina and executives from major state-owned corporations, underlining the importance Moscow attaches to the visit.

Energy security gains urgency

The renewed urgency around the pipeline comes as China reassesses its long-term energy security strategy amid geopolitical tensions in West Asia.

Bloomberg reported that some Chinese officials have shown interest in accelerating discussions on the project, although no final breakthrough has yet been achieved.

Russia’s state-controlled energy giant Gazprom is reportedly aiming to finalise pricing agreements for the pipeline by September. The project could eventually deliver 50 billion cubic metres of gas annually to China.

Russia has sharply increased energy exports to Asia after gas sales to Europe collapsed following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. According to Bloomberg, Russia expects to sell gas to China at prices roughly one-third lower than those previously paid by European buyers.

Moscow’s growing dependence on Beijing

The visit also highlights the deepening — but increasingly unequal — relationship between Moscow and Beijing.

Trade between Russia and China reached about $228 billion in 2025, though Chinese customs data showed a decline of nearly 7 per cent from the previous year. Despite the slowdown, Putin recently said bilateral trade had remained above the $200 billion mark for three consecutive years.

China has become Russia’s biggest economic lifeline since Western sanctions intensified after the Ukraine invasion. Bloomberg reported that Russia now imports more than 90 per cent of its sanctioned technology through China.

At the same time, Beijing has tried to balance its support for Moscow with efforts to avoid direct confrontation with the West. China has refused to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but continues to publicly stress principles such as sovereignty and territorial integrity.

An editorial published Monday in the Chinese Communist Party’s flagship newspaper, People’s Daily, called for stronger “strategic coordination and comprehensive cooperation” between the two countries, highlighting areas such as energy, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, agriculture and Arctic logistics.

Strategic partnership, not formal alliance

Despite repeated descriptions of a “friendship with no limits,” analysts say the Russia-China relationship remains driven more by strategic necessity than ideological alignment.

According to analysts, China benefits from Russia’s vast energy resources, Arctic access and support for a multipolar world order that challenges US dominance.

For Russia, China has become an indispensable economic and diplomatic partner as ties with Europe and the United States deteriorate.

Yet the imbalance between the two powers is becoming more pronounced. China’s economy is far larger than Russia’s, and Beijing increasingly dictates the terms of economic engagement.

Still, experts say neither side has viable alternatives.

Putin’s visit also follows Xi’s recent summit with US President Donald Trump, giving the Russian leader an opportunity to discuss the evolving geopolitical landscape directly with Beijing as tensions rise across multiple global flashpoints.

With inputs from agencies.