Putin's China visit yields no pipeline deal, shows Beijing's stronger hand

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to China this week was meant to demonstrate the deepening partnership between Moscow and Beijing, but behind the public displays of unity, the trip yielded few concrete gains for Russia. Notably, no agreement was reached on the long-awaited Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline project, a key energy deal that Moscow had hoped to finalize. Chinese observers said the visit underscored the growing economic and strategic asymmetries in the relationship, with China emerging as the stronger party.

According to Zhang Xin, a professor at the Centre for Russian Studies at East China Normal University, Beijing’s position in managing China-Russia-US ties has been notably strengthened after hosting both Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. “China is actually standing in a relatively more advantageous position,” he said. “Given the fact that the leaders of Russia and the US have visited China, this is not just symbolic. Indeed, China now is in a relatively stronger position within this triangular relationship.” The trip highlighted Beijing’s ability to maintain a balancing act between two major powers while advancing its own strategic interests.