What Xi and Putin Agreed on in Beijing and Whether There Were Any Breakthroughs — Reuters
During talks in Beijing on May 20, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin agreed on the key parameters of the new “Power of Siberia 2” gas pipeline. The parties agreed on the project’s route, but issues regarding pricing and the delivery schedule remain unresolved. It is also reported that agreements were signed regarding new railway infrastructure and the extension of the visa-free regime between the countries.
This is detailed in an extensive Reuters report.
Russia and China have been discussing for years a pipeline that would transport gas from the Arctic Yamal fields to China via Mongolia. Currently, only the “Power of Siberia” pipeline is operational, transporting over 38 billion cubic meters of gas per year. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that there is an agreement on the route and basic parameters of the project, but no final implementation schedule has been set. A full-fledged agreement on price and other key terms has also not been reached.
“Power of Siberia 2,” which will be approximately 2,600 km long, is expected to be able to supply up to 50 billion cubic meters of gas annually.
During their meeting in Beijing, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin announced the deepening of their strategic partnership. No energy agreements were among the documents signed. China and Russia issued a statement opposing unilateral actions and condemning attempts at global domination. The parties also emphasized the continuation of cooperation in energy and trade.
In a joint statement, the parties reiterated their position on the need to address the root causes of the war in Ukraine and called for adherence to the UN Charter.
Russia and China agreed to build a new cross-border railway line between Zabaykalsk and Manchuria, which is expected to increase the capacity of the trade route.
China has extended the visa-free regime for Russian citizens until the end of 2027. Russia will also continue a similar policy toward Chinese citizens.
In conclusion, according to media assessments, the joint statements do not contain any significant breakthroughs and largely reiterate the parties’ previously known positions.
Prior to this, on May 19, the Chinese Foreign Ministry denied a Financial Times report claiming that Xi Jinping had allegedly spoken negatively about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions during negotiations with Donald Trump.
Earlier, Trumppointed out the catastrophic consequences of a mistake in choosing a successor—Fortune.
On May 18, U.S. President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image in which he is allegedly depicted alongside an “alien” and accompanied by “space forces.”
U.S. President Donald Trump plans to hold a meeting with his national security team this week to discuss possible military action against Iran. According to Axios on May 18, these discussions are taking place against the backdrop of deteriorating diplomatic efforts and rising tensions between Washington and Tehran.
