Putin Praises Strong Ties with China as Gazprom Secures Major Gas Agreement

Tianjin, China — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday hailed relations with Beijing as being at an “unprecedentedly high level,” underscoring growing strategic ties between the two powers. The remarks came as Russia’s state energy giant Gazprom announced the signing of a long-awaited agreement to construct the Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline, a massive project that will transport natural gas from Russia to China via Mongolia. The deal, which includes a 30-year supply agreement, is designed to deliver 50 billion cubic meters of gas annually, offsetting nearly half of the exports Moscow lost in Europe following the Ukraine war. Gazprom CEO Aleksey Miller described it as “the largest, most capital-intensive gas project in the world,” though Beijing has yet to publicly confirm the deal.

Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping held extensive discussions in Beijing, including formal talks at the Great Hall of the People and a more personal meeting at Xi’s Zhongnanhai residence. Both leaders highlighted their countries’ deepening partnership, with Xi calling Putin an “old friend” and emphasizing China’s willingness to work with Russia to promote a “just and reasonable global governance system.” Putin, for his part, invoked historical ties dating back to World War II, stressing the enduring nature of their strategic alignment. The visit, which also included a trilateral meeting with Mongolia’s president, comes against the backdrop of U.S. pressure on countries to cut Russian energy imports and as Washington intensifies efforts to end the Ukraine war. Putin’s stay in China, his longest visit to a single country since 2022, also sets the stage for his expected encounter with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during Wednesday’s massive Victory Day military parade in Beijing.