Kremlin Sets High Expectations for Putin's 2-Day China Trip as 50 bcm Pipeline Looms
Updated
Updated · Reuters · May 18
Kremlin Sets High Expectations for Putin's 2-Day China Trip as 50 bcm Pipeline Looms
8 articles · Updated · Reuters · May 18
Putin will visit China on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the Kremlin saying it expects the trip to deepen what Moscow calls a particularly privileged and strategic partnership.
Economic issues will be central to the talks, Peskov said, with deputy prime ministers, ministers and company heads joining the Russian delegation.
Power of Siberia 2 — a proposed pipeline that could send 50 billion cubic metres of gas a year to China via Mongolia — is among the agenda items the Kremlin did not rule out.
The visit comes less than a week after Donald Trump held talks with Xi Jinping and as China-Russia ties have tightened under Western sanctions over the Ukraine war.
With Russia increasingly dependent, will China finally secure a bargain price for the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline?
What advanced military technology is Russia trading to China in exchange for its economic lifeline?
As Russia and China build their own financial system, how vulnerable is the US dollar's global dominance?
High Stakes in Eurasian Energy: Putin’s 2026 China Visit and the Power of Siberia 2 Pipeline Gamble
Overview
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming state visit to China in May 2026 highlights the growing importance of the Russia-China partnership, especially as Russia faces international isolation after the Ukraine conflict. The visit will feature a large Russian delegation and focus on deepening strategic ties, with energy cooperation—particularly the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline—at the center of discussions. This project is crucial for redirecting Russian energy exports eastward and strengthening economic links. The summit reflects both countries’ efforts to expand their partnership, with China’s investment in Russia’s state sector and comprehensive talks underscoring the high stakes involved.