What Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping discussed during the Russian president's visit to Beijing a week after Trump's trip to China

What Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping discussed during the Russian president's visit to Beijing
REUTERS
Russian President Vladimir Putin said this Wednesday (20), on an official visit to China, that ties between the two countries have reached an "unprecedented level".
During their visit to Beijing, Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping signed more than 20 trade and technological agreements, as well as a declaration on a "world order multipolar".
Putin seeks to strengthen relations with China, the world's largest buyer of Russian oil. One of the priorities on the agenda is a new gas pipeline, which could transport up to 50 billion cubic meters of natural gas to China.
Putin's visit comes a week after US President Donald Trump's trip to China. Analysts say Chinese money and technology have been key to Putin's survival in power.
Russia-China gas pipeline
Russia and China have reached an understanding on the Siberian Force 2 pipeline, a major project that, if completed, would transport up to 50 billion cubic meters of gas a year to China via Mongolia from gas fields in Yamal, Russia.
Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists that "some nuances still need to be defined" but that "there is already an understanding", according to state news agency RIA Novosti.
The agreement includes the route of the gas pipeline and the method of construction, he said. No other details or timelines were released.
The pipeline would transport the equivalent of about 12% of China's total gas consumption, based on 2025 estimates.
A deal had been stalled for years due to disagreements over the price - but earlier this week news emerged that Russian gas giant Gazprom and the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) had signed a preliminary agreement.
With the Russian economy under increasing pressure and Western sanctions, the project will likely gain new importance for Russia, according to analysts. China is Russia's main trading partner and also its biggest buyer of oil and gas.
After receiving Trump, Xi Jinping reinforces alliance with Putin and advances in agreements
In a speech in Beijing, Xi said that relations between China and Russia continue to improve, and that they have reached "the highest level of comprehensive strategic partnership".
Xi also stated that both countries will intensify cooperation in artificial intelligence and technological innovation.
According to the Chinese president, China and Russia must firmly play their roles as "responsible great powers" to protect international law and oppose "all unilateral intimidation and actions that reverse history."
Putin said Russia is prepared to continue supplying China with energy, and asserted that trade between the two countries is protected from external influences and negative trends in global markets.
He also said Russia is willing to maintain uninterrupted supplies of oil and gas to China.
Following their speeches, Putin and Xi did not respond to questions from journalists.
In statements to Russian state television, Putin's foreign policy advisor, Yuri Ushakov, said that Putin and Xi will still discuss international issues in a private meeting for tea scheduled for this Wednesday. The discussion would include issues such as Ukraine, Iran and relations with the US.
Meeting between Putin and Trump
Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, did not rule out a meeting between Putin and Trump at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in China in November, Russian news agency Interfax reported.
Putin had already confirmed his presence at the APEC summit. The US will send a delegation, but has not specified whether Trump will be present.
China will host the APEC summit in the southern city of Shenzhen. Apec's annual summit is usually attended by leaders from Russia, China and sometimes the US.

Source: G1