Russian President considers that a relationship between the two countries is at the “unprecedented” level. Chinese leader has endorsed it to extend Russian gas purchase in the middle of anti-occident effort.
A meeting between China President Xi Jinping and his Russian homologist Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Tuesday (02/09) strengthened relations between the two countries, an approach that accelerated with the Russian invasion in Ukraine.
Putin, who referred to Xi as a “old friend,” left the meeting stating that China-Russian diplomacy is at an “unprecedented” level. The Russian was victorious from the meeting by winning the endorsement of the Chinese leader to Siberia’s Pipeline 2 pipeline project.
The agreement was expected for years by Kremlin, who seeks alternative markets to his gas. The European Union intends to gradually eliminate the purchase of Russian fossil fuels by 2027.
“Dear friend, both I and the whole Russian delegation are happy to meet our friends and colleagues once again,” Putin A Xi told a bilateral meeting whose images were released on the official Kremlin channel on Telegram.
“Our close communication reflects the strategic nature of relations between Russia and China, which are at an unprecedented level,” added the Russian President.
China confirms Russian gas agreement
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, China has become the country’s main economic partner led by Putin, the result of a “boundless” partnership signed in 2022 to seek to circumvent the influence of the West.
The green flag for the feasibility of the pipeline, however, was not yet certain. The project can provide 50 billion additional gas cubic meters per year to China through Mongolia, from Yamal gas fields. If you get out of paper, the Asian country, the world’s largest energy consumer, will have more options to reduce its dependence on the United States liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Russian state -owned CEO Gazprom, Alexei Miller, announced that a “legally binding memo” was agreed after bilateral conversations between Xi and Putin in Beijing and a trilateral meeting with Mongolian representative. Prices have not yet been set.
“The big deal is finally underway,” said Kirill Babaev, director of the China Institute and Contemporary Asia in Moscow, a Think Tank that advises the Russian government over China.
“Although we do not yet know the price and volume parameters, nor the pipeline subcontractors, political negotiations are now behind, giving way to commercial tasks.” Gazprom will be able to supply gas to China for at least 30 years.
Beijing consolidates proximity to Moscow
Putin’s visit occurs in a context of change in the now more protectionist US approach to international trade.
In addition, China has been seeking to position itself as a stable and reliable partner for Russia, despite protests from the West. During the meeting, Xi told Putin that relations between the two countries “resisted the test of international changes.”
The Chinese leader also argued that his government is ready to work with Putin’s to “promote the construction of a fairer and more reasonable global governance system.”
At least 20 cooperation agreements involving other sectors were also signed at the meeting, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said.
China prepares demonstration of strength
Putin, who has been widely rejected by the West due to his military campaign in Ukraine, is in Beijing to participate in the largest military parade ever held in the country, on Wednesday. The event celebrates 80 years of the end of World War II and the surrender of Japan, a conflict that devastated to China.
Heads of US and Western Europe will not attend, as well as Japan and South Korea. The only guest western leaders are from Slovakia and Serbia, two countries that have had ties with Russia since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine.
Some Chinese military equipment will be shown to the public for the first time, including terrestrial, naval and aerial strategic weapons, advanced precision war and drone equipment.
In addition to Putin, Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, and North Korea Kim Jong-un are the most prominent leaders who will participate in the Victory Day parade in China.
Kim Jong-un makes a rare trip abroad
Reports obtained by news agencies indicate that Kim is already in China, where he can hold his first simultaneous face -to -face meeting with Putin and Xi. A possible summit that also includes the president of Iran has been nicknamed western analysts of “axis of revolt” due to their anti-occident character.
This is the first visit of the North Korean leader to China since 2019 and the fifth since taking over the country’s leadership after his father’s death in 2011.
The trip occurs when US President Donald Trump and South Korean Lee Jae Myung expressed interest in renewing peace negotiations with North Korea. Pyongyang has refused dialogues so far while working to increase their nuclear arsenal.
North Korea has actively supported the Russian War in Ukraine, both with its own soldiers and ammunition, in exchange for Moscow’s economic and military assistance.
Beijing, in turn, has been Pyongyang’s main ally for decades, and although relationships were tense during the Covid-19 pandemic, Xi and Kim promised to strengthen their bilateral dialogues in 2021.
Analysts observe whether an unprecedented meeting between Putin, XI and Kim could signal narrower defense relations after the pact signed by Russia and North Korea in June 2024. A possible similar alliance between Beijing and Pyongyang alters the calculation of military power in the Asia Pacific region.
According to Russian state agency Tass, Putin and Xi did not discuss the sending of a maintenance contingent of Chinese peace to Ukraine.
Originally published by DW on 02/09/2025
Source: https://www.ocafezinho.com/2025/09/03/putin-e-xi-fecham-acordo-para-novo-gasoduto-russia-china/
