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Power of Siberia 2 stalls
Russian President Vladimir Putin left Beijing after talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping failed to secure final approval for the long-delayed Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, with the Kremlin saying only a "general understanding" had been reached on the project’s outline.
“only a “general understanding” had been reached on the project’s outline”
Kyiv Post reported that the meeting ended without a formal agreement or timeline for the pipeline that would transport around 50 billion cubic meters of Russian natural gas annually to China via Mongolia.
BBC said the two countries also failed to finalise details on the multi-billion dollar Power of Siberia 2 natural gas pipeline, with the Kremlin saying they only reached "a general understanding".
The talks still produced a broader package of cooperation, with CNBC saying the leaders signed a sweeping package of over 40 deals on trade, education, technology, nuclear security, among others, even as the pipeline breakthrough Moscow was eyeing did not arrive.
Quotes, rhetoric, and friction
In Beijing, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that "Some details still need to be finalized," as CNBC described the pipeline failure as a setback for Russia and Putin.
CNBC quoted Lyle Morris saying, "This is a huge setback for Russia and Putin, who hinted before the visit that a breakthrough was in the works," and added that Putin was "embarrassed" by the lack of agreement.
The BBC said Xi and Putin wrapped up talks with no final details on the gas pipeline, while Chinese state media reported a banquet and a joint statement that criticized US military actions and Golden Dome defence shield plans.
The Kyiv Post account said Xi and Putin projected unity during their meeting and condemned what they described as “treacherous military strikes against other countries,” while also calling for a “comprehensive cessation of hostilities” in the Middle East.
What’s at stake next
Power of Siberia 2 is described by Al Jazeera as a proposed 2,600km (1,616-mile) natural gas pipeline that would carry Russian gas through Mongolia to China, with expected capacity of 50 billion cubic metres (1.77 trillion cubic feet) per year once built.
“"Some details still need to be finalised"”
Al Jazeera said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov conceded there was no timetable for carrying out the project, while also framing agreement on the route and construction as leaving "Some details still need to be finalised".
The Bloomberg-linked piece in اقتصاد الشرق مع بلومبرغ said negotiations on pricing and supply flexibility remain major obstacles to moving the project forward, even as it described the pipeline as shaping the agenda for the May 20 meeting in Beijing.
In parallel, the same set of reporting tied the pipeline’s momentum to the Iran war and energy crisis, while noting that the project is expected to be able to transport 50 billion cubic meters of gas annually after 2030 and that the start date has not yet been set.
