With particularly high expectations he is preparing to go to Beijing in Beijing, the Russian president, as demonstrated by at least the official announcements on his part, but also on the basis of revelations from Reuters.
Privileged Strategic Cooperation with… Natural Gas
In particular, the Kremlin, commenting on the forthcoming visit, said that “Russia-China relations represent a privileged strategic cooperation, which is still far from being fully exploited.”
At the same time as the above, Reuters citing sources with knowledge of the matter says that China seeks to buy more Russian gas through an existing pipeline, as talks between the two countries have not reached an agreement on the construction of a second pipeline.
Will increase the deliveries but without a new duct
According to the agency, it is unlikely that progress will be made during a visit to the Power of Siberia 2, worth $ 13.6 billion, which will supply 50 billion cubic meters of natural gas in northwestern China and in the northwest of China and in the northwest of China. Natural gas markets – reaching 38 billion cubic meters – through the existing Power of Siberia 1 pipeline.
The fact that the Chinese leadership does not seem willing to discuss the development of the pipeline confirms that Beijing is essentially the one that has the upper hand in Russia, as Power of Siberia 2 was a project that Moscow wanted to use so that it could “play” with it.
Europe “closed”, China “closes” gradually
With the European market closed, due to the war of Ukraine and Russia’s restriction measures taken by Europeans, China’s decision not to proceed with Power of Siberia 2 – after disputes with Moscow over costs, etc. – is essentially equivalent to Vladimir’s “defeat”. However, Beijing’s commitment that appears to be announced next week is a move and good faith on its part to Moscow.
Increasing domestic gas production and the production of China’s renewable energy sources have significantly reduced the Chinese demand for energy out. According to Reuters, Gazprom and China National Petroleum Corporation, they are in negotiations to increase supplies through the Power of Siberia 1 by 6 billion cubic meters a year by 2031.
According to Reuters, this new commission could generate $ 1.5 billion a year for Gazprom, based on the price of gas at $ 250 per 1,000 cubic meters.
Russia is also going to start supplying China with natural gas via a pipeline from the island of Sahalin in 2027. Plans predicts the supply of 10 billion cubic meters a year.
Complex China-Russia bilateral relations
It is noted that a few months ago, however, and despite the fact that the leaders of the two countries have in recent years committed to a special strategic relationship between them, a confidential exposure of Russian intelligence services in their assessment of the balance of forces with Beijing, referred to China as “the enemy”. The revelation of this report shows that the relationships between the two are clearly more complex than what their leaders promote as a picture.
