Overview
- The Russian leader began a state visit on Tuesday that Kremlin aides say will conclude with about 40 accords and a joint statement to deepen the partnership.
- Talks will feature the proposed Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, a route through Mongolia designed to move about 50 billion cubic meters of Russian gas to China each year.
- China is now Russia’s key energy customer, with Kremlin figures citing 49 bcm of gas and roughly 101 million tonnes of oil shipped to China in 2025.
- Beijing cast hosting Trump last week and Putin this week as proof of its central diplomatic role, even as Moscow stresses the two are not allied against anyone.
- China’s foreign ministry rejected a Financial Times report that Xi told Trump Putin might regret invading Ukraine, calling the account completely invented.