Chinese gas deal still eludes Moscow [Gas in Transition]

Summary

A lack of progress on the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline following the latest meeting between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping in Beijing chips away at the picture of unshakeable unity and strength both leaders have sought to project under their “no limits” friendship. [Gas in Transition, Volume 3, Issue 10]

The last time Russian president Vladimir Putin visited China he returned to Moscow with the promise of a “no limits” partnership from his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. But the latest meeting between the two leaders in Beijing in October revealed a hard edge to the united front, as Gazprom failed again to clinch a highly anticipated deal to build the follow-up to the Power of Siberia (PoS) pipeline.
China and Russia’s leaders took centre stage in October at a two-day forum in Beijing attended by 23 heads of state mostly from the Global South. The meeting between Xi and Putin on the sidelines of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation was at least their fourth since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, and the second this year after Xi visited Moscow in March in a strong show of support for the Kremlin.
Limitless friendship?
China-Russia energy cooperation had been in focu…