Power of Siberia 2 talks are set to shape Vladimir Putin’s May 19-20 visit to Beijing, China, where Xi Jinping will host him after Donald Trump’s trip.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is making his 25th visit to China. Chinese President Xi Jinping will use the meeting to stress Beijing’s role as a stable global power.
The Kremlin said the visit also marks the 25th anniversary of the 2001 China-Russia treaty. That pact remains a key base for ties between Beijing and Moscow.
Energy sits near the top of the agenda. Russia wants the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline to move more gas to China after Western sanctions hit its European markets.
Pricing remains the main hurdle. The Financial Times reported that Moscow wants to unlock the $50 billion pipeline project, while Beijing continues to seek better terms.
China has kept strong trade ties with Russia since Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. At the same time, Beijing has tried to steady ties with Washington after Trump’s visit.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Xi and Putin would discuss bilateral cooperation and regional issues. He spoke at a regular briefing in Beijing.
Ian Storey, principal fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, said China would not likely pressure Russia to end the Ukraine war. He said the China-Russia partnership remains central to both sides.
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China says it has not supplied lethal weapons to either side in the war. It also says it strictly controls exports of dual-use items.
The summit follows Trump’s China visit, which produced positive optics but few major commercial deals. Beijing has framed both visits around stability.
