Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin used their meeting in Beijing on Wednesday to underline the strength of China-Russia ties at a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty, with the long-delayed Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline once again emerging as a key focus. Welcoming Putin at the Great Hall of the People with an honour guard and gun salute, Xi described relations between the two countries as a force of “calm amid chaos”, days after hosting US President Donald Trump for a high-profile summit in Beijing.&nbsp;The two leaders presided over the signing of more than 20 agreements covering trade, technology and broader strategic cooperation. In a joint declaration, Beijing and Moscow criticised “unilateral bullying” and warned against a return to the “law of the jungle” in global affairs. Putin, meanwhile, said Russia was ready for cooperation with all partners, including the United States, and stressed that Russia-China relations had reached an “unprecedented level”.&nbsp;<h3>Power of Siberia 2 remains without timeline</h3>&nbsp;Despite renewed focus on energy cooperation, there was still no clear timeline for the long-delayed, multibillion-dollar Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline project. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia and China had reached a “general understanding” on the pipeline, but key details still needed to be finalised. “There are no clear timings,” Peskov said, according to Reuters.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-sweetening-relationships-since-parle-reacts-after-pm-modi-gifts-melody-to-giorgia-meloni-melodi-trend-returns-1779266710516">‘Sweetening relationships since...’: Parle reacts as PM Modi gifts Melody to Giorgia Meloni, ‘#Melodi’ trend returns</a>&nbsp;Moscow, which has grown increasingly dependent on China economically since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, has long pushed for the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, though progress has remained slow amid Beijing’s cautious approach. The proposed project would transport 50 billion cubic metres of natural gas annually from Russia’s Yamal Peninsula in northern Siberia to China via Mongolia, spanning roughly 2,600 kilometres (1,600 miles). Discussions over the pipeline have dragged on for more than a decade, with pricing disputes continuing to delay progress.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and China's President Xi Jinping exchange documents during a signing ceremony followin

&nbsp;Russia’s state-run Gazprom launched a feasibility study for the pipeline in 2020 and signed a binding 30-year supply memorandum in September 2025. However, AFP reported that the project was absent from the Kremlin’s lengthy list of agreements released after the Xi-Putin meeting. China has shown limited urgency towards the project, despite Russian hopes that energy market instability caused by the Middle East conflict would strengthen Beijing’s interest.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/what-is-ulpgm-v3-india-completes-development-trials-of-indigenous-uav-launched-missile-all-features-explained-1779262940485">What is ULPGM-V3? India completes final trials of indigenous UAV-launched precision guided missile; All features explained</a> &nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Why the project matters to Moscow and Beijing</h2>&nbsp;&nbsp;The pipeline has become increasingly important for Moscow since Western sanctions imposed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sharply reduced its access to European energy markets. Redirecting gas exports towards China is now central to Russia’s long-term energy strategy.&nbsp;Putin said Russia was prepared to continue supplying China with energy and highlighted growing use of the rouble and yuan in bilateral trade settlements. He also pointed to “big potential” in joint renewable energy projects. While the summit produced strong diplomatic optics and broad strategic messaging, the absence of concrete progress on Power of Siberia 2 highlighted the unresolved economic differences still shaping one of the world’s most closely watched energy partnerships.

The two leaders presided over the signing of more than 20 agreements covering trade, technology and broader strategic cooperation. In a joint declaration, Beijing and Moscow criticised “unilateral bullying” and warned against a return to the “law of the jungle” in global affairs.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin used their meeting in Beijing on Wednesday to underline the strength of China-Russia ties at a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty, with the long-delayed Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline once again emerging as a key focus. Welcoming Putin at the Great Hall of the People with an honour guard and gun salute, Xi described relations between the two countries as a force of “calm amid chaos”, days after hosting US President Donald Trump for a high-profile summit in Beijing. The two leaders presided over the signing of more than 20 agreements covering trade, technology and broader strategic cooperation. In a joint declaration, Beijing and Moscow criticised “unilateral bullying” and warned against a return to the “law of the jungle” in global affairs. Putin, meanwhile, said Russia was ready for cooperation with all partners, including the United States, and stressed that Russia-China relations had reached an “unprecedented level”. Power of Siberia 2 remains without timeline Despite renewed focus on energy cooperation, there was still no clear timeline for the long-delayed, multibillion-dollar Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline project. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia and China had reached a “general understanding” on the pipeline, but key details still needed to be finalised. “There are no clear timings,” Peskov said, according to Reuters. ALSO READ: ‘Sweetening relationships since...’: Parle reacts as PM Modi gifts Melody to Giorgia Meloni, ‘#Melodi’ trend returns Moscow, which has grown increasingly dependent on China economically since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, has long pushed for the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, though progress has remained slow amid Beijing’s cautious approach. The proposed project would transport 50 billion cubic metres of natural gas annually from Russia’s Yamal Peninsula in northern Siberia to China via Mongolia, spanning roughly 2,600 kilometres (1,600 miles). Discussions over the pipeline have dragged on for more than a decade, with pricing disputes continuing to delay progress.

The two leaders presided over the signing of more than 20 agreements covering trade, technology and broader strategic cooperation. In a joint declaration, Beijing and Moscow criticised “unilateral bullying” and warned against a return to the “law of the jungle” in global affairs.

Xi-Putin meet in Beijing: Russia’s stalled multibillion-dollar Power of Siberia 2 pipeline still without timeline

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in Beijing on Tuesday for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping at a time when energy security, trade and geopolitical rivalries are becoming increasingly intertwined. Coming just days after US President Donald Trump’s closely watched visit to China, the summit is expected to highlight the strength of Beijing’s partnership with Moscow. While both sides routinely describe ties as ‘ironclad’, one project is likely to loom large over the discussions, the proposed Power of Siberia 2 natural gas pipeline. The pipeline has become central to Moscow’s efforts to redirect energy exports towards Asia after Western sanctions over the Ukraine war sharply reduced Russia’s gas business with Europe. For China, however, the calculation is more complex: securing long-term energy supplies while avoiding excessive dependence on a single partner.&nbsp;<h3>What exactly is Power of Siberia 2?</h3>&nbsp;Power of Siberia 2 is a proposed 2,600-kilometre cross-border gas pipeline designed to transport 50 billion cubic metres (bcm) of Russian natural gas annually to China through Mongolia. Unlike the existing Power of Siberia 1 pipeline, which began operations in 2019 and carries gas from eastern Siberian fields to China, the new route would draw supplies from the Yamal fields in western Siberia, reserves that once largely served European markets before sanctions linked to the Ukraine war disrupted Russia’s energy trade with Europe.&nbsp;During Putin and Xi’s meeting in September 2025, both sides agreed to raise the annual capacity of Power of Siberia 1 from 38 bcm to 44 bcm. Russian energy giant Gazprom, which is leading the Power of Siberia 2 project, began feasibility studies in 2020 and announced a legally binding 30-year supply memorandum last year. However, the project has remained stalled over disagreements on pricing. Putin said in September that gas supplied through the pipeline would be priced using a market-based formula similar to the mechanism previously used for Russian gas exports to Europe.&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/record-voter-turnout-and-rising-elector-numbers-seen-across-bengal-tamil-nadu-kerala-and-assam-eci-data-shows-1778932204555">Record electoral participation seen across Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam &amp; Puducherry in recent elections: ECI</a>&nbsp;<h3>Why the pipeline matters to Russia</h3>&nbsp;For Moscow, the project carries both economic and strategic significance. China has already become the world’s largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels, cushioning Russia from the impact of Western sanctions. “In principle, we have reached a high degree of consensus regarding the taking of a serious — indeed, very substantial — step forward in our cooperation within the oil and gas sectors,” Putin told reporters on May 9, according to Reuters.&nbsp;In September 2025, AFP reported that Gazprom chief Alexei Miller described the agreement as ‘a very important step’ towards deepening the Russia-China strategic partnership and expanding ‘reliable supplies of clean energy’. Russia also agreed ⁠in 2025 to boost oil supplies to China via Kazakhstan by an additional 2.5 million metric tonnes annually.&nbsp;

Xi-Putin meeting in 2023

&nbsp;<h3>China’s balancing act</h3>&nbsp;Despite closer ties with Moscow, Beijing has avoided relying too heavily on Russian energy. Analysts say China continues to prioritise supply diversification. China is simultaneously discussing energy arrangements with Turkmenistan, which already supplies large volumes of gas to the Chinese market. A fourth pipeline proposed in 2014, from Turkmenistan’s giant Galkynysh gas field ⁠to northwest China, has itself faced years of delays over pricing disputes and logistical complexities involving Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, the countries through which the pipeline would pass.&nbsp;ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-restricts-imports-of-two-types-of-silver-bars-with-immediate-effect-1778942317825">India restricts import of two types of silver bars with immediate effect</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<h3>Other existing gas pipeline network</h3><h3>&nbsp;</h3>According to Reuters, China’s pipeline-based natural gas imports have risen steadily, reaching 59.4 million tonnes in 2025 and accounting for about 19 per cent of domestic consumption. The country currently receives gas through five major pipelines linking it to Central Asia, Russia and Myanmar. Three pipelines from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, via Kazakhstan, supply over 40 billion cubic metres annually. The Myanmar-China Gas Pipeline has operated since 2013, while Russia and China are also building a separate 10 bcm pipeline connecting China to Russia’s Sakhalin island.&nbsp;<h3>Could the Iran conflict influence talks?</h3>&nbsp;Recent instability linked to the conflict involving Iran and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz have renewed attention on overland energy routes less vulnerable to maritime disruption. That could strengthen Russia’s argument for Power of Siberia 2 as a stable, land-based supply corridor into China. Yet experts caution that pricing negotiations could still take years.&nbsp;<h3>More than just an energy deal</h3>&nbsp;The pipeline is also a symbol of the broader Russia-China strategic partnership. Putin and Xi have met dozens of times, with the Kremlin increasingly viewing Beijing as its most important economic partner. This week marks Putin’s 25th visit to China, according to Beijing’s foreign ministry. As Xi hosts his ‘old friend’, the fate of Power of Siberia 2 may offer the clearest indication yet of how far the two powers are prepared to deepen their long-term alignment.

 While both sides routinely describe ties as ‘ironclad’, one project is likely to loom large over the discussions, the proposed Power of Siberia 2 natural gas pipeline.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in Beijing on Tuesday for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping at a time when energy security, trade and geopolitical rivalries are becoming increasingly intertwined. Coming just days after US President Donald Trump’s closely watched visit to China, the summit is expected to highlight the strength of Beijing’s partnership with Moscow. While both sides routinely describe ties as ‘ironclad’, one project is likely to loom large over the discussions, the proposed Power of Siberia 2 natural gas pipeline. The pipeline has become central to Moscow’s efforts to redirect energy exports towards Asia after Western sanctions over the Ukraine war sharply reduced Russia’s gas business with Europe. For China, however, the calculation is more complex: securing long-term energy supplies while avoiding excessive dependence on a single partner. What exactly is Power of Siberia 2? Power of Siberia 2 is a proposed 2,600-kilometre cross-border gas pipeline designed to transport 50 billion cubic metres (bcm) of Russian natural gas annually to China through Mongolia. Unlike the existing Power of Siberia 1 pipeline, which began operations in 2019 and carries gas from eastern Siberian fields to China, the new route would draw supplies from the Yamal fields in western Siberia, reserves that once largely served European markets before sanctions linked to the Ukraine war disrupted Russia’s energy trade with Europe. During Putin and Xi’s meeting in September 2025, both sides agreed to raise the annual capacity of Power of Siberia 1 from 38 bcm to 44 bcm. Russian energy giant Gazprom, which is leading the Power of Siberia 2 project, began feasibility studies in 2020 and announced a legally binding 30-year supply memorandum last year. However, the project has remained stalled over disagreements on pricing. Putin said in September that gas supplied through the pipeline would be priced using a market-based formula similar to the mechanism previously used for Russian gas exports to Europe. ALSO READ: Record electoral participation seen across Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam & Puducherry in recent elections: ECI Why the pipeline matters to Russia For Moscow, the project carries both economic and strategic significance. China has already become the world’s largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels, cushioning Russia from the impact of Western sanctions. “In principle, we have reached a high degree of consensus regarding the taking of a serious — indeed, very substantial — step forward in our cooperation within the oil and gas sectors,” Putin told reporters on May 9, according to Reuters. In September 2025, AFP reported that Gazprom chief Alexei Miller described the agreement as ‘a very important step’ towards deepening the Russia-China strategic partnership and expanding ‘reliable supplies of clean energy’. Russia also agreed ⁠in 2025 to boost oil supplies to China via Kazakhstan by an additional 2.5 million metric tonnes annually.

&nbsp;While both sides routinely describe ties as ‘ironclad’, one project is likely to loom large over the discussions, the proposed Power of Siberia 2 natural gas pipeline.

Will Russia’s massive ‘Power of Siberia 2’ gas pipeline dominate Xi-Putin talks in Beijing? What is it? | WION Decodes

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Xi-Putin meet in Beijing: Russia’s stalled multibillion-dollar Power of Siberia 2 pipeline still without timeline

Putin Heads to Beijing With a Giant Pipeline Plan, What is ‘Power of Siberia 2’?