Xi Jinping and Putin to Hold Second Meeting This Year…No Progress on ‘Siberian Power-2’ The leaders of China and Russia, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, are expected to hold their second meeting this year. The meeting is expected to take place on the sidelines of the 2022 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The two leaders are likely to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation on regional and global issues. However, there has been no progress on the ‘Siberian Power-2’ gas pipeline project. The project, which aims to supply Russian gas to China through a new pipeline, has been under discussion for several years. Despite previous agreements, the project has faced delays and challenges. The two countries have been discussing the project since 2014, but a final agreement has yet to be reached. Russia's Gazprom and China's National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) signed a memorandum of understanding on the project in 2015. However, the project has been put on hold due to differences over pricing and other issues. The project is expected to have a capacity of 30 billion cubic meters of gas per year. The pipeline will stretch over 2,600 kilometers from Russia's Siberia region to China's northeastern region. The project is seen as a key part of China's efforts to diversify its energy sources and reduce its reliance on coal. It is also expected to strengthen Russia's position as a major energy supplier to China. Despite the delays, both countries are expected to continue working on the project. The meeting between Xi and Putin is seen as an opportunity for the two leaders to discuss the project and other issues. The two leaders are likely to reaffirm their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation. The meeting is also expected to focus on regional and global issues, including the situation in Ukraine and the security situation in Central Asia. The two leaders will also discuss ways to promote trade and investment between the two countries. Bilateral trade between China and Russia has been growing rapidly in recent years. In 2021, bilateral trade between the two countries reached a record high of $146.9 billion. The two countries have set a target of increasing bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2024. The meeting between Xi and Putin is expected to help promote cooperation and strengthen relations between the two countries.
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