Putin has not received China's approval for the new "Power of Siberia 2" gas pipeline
During his visit to China, Vladimir Putin had hoped to secure Beijing’s approval for the construction of a new large-scale gas pipeline, but the talks ended without a result.
The Washington Post reported this, citing sources in diplomatic circles.
The project in question is the “Power of Siberia 2” gas pipeline, which Russia is promoting as a strategic route for supplying natural gas to China. Its planned capacity is up to 50 billion cubic meters of gas per year. Despite lengthy negotiations, China has not approved the launch of the project, which effectively leaves it without final approval.
The Kremlin stated that there are currently no clear deadlines for the project’s implementation. According to Russian officials, the parties have only a general vision of the route and technical parameters, but key details remain unresolved.
The Russian side claims that there is a certain understanding regarding the concept of the gas pipeline, but this has not yet resulted in specific agreements or signed documents.
The situation once again underscores Russia’s growing dependence on the Chinese energy market, while demonstrating that Beijing is in no hurry to commit to large-scale, long-term energy projects.
During the latest round of talks in Beijing, the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China once again failed to agree on specific launch dates for the “Power of Siberia-2” gas pipeline.
China has extended the visa-free regime for Russian citizens until the end of 2027.
China has committed to purchasing more than $17 billion worth of U.S. goods.
