Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to discuss the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline project during their meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on August 31, according to Kremlin officials. The discussion will take place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, which runs from August 31 to September 1.
This meeting marks the second in-person encounter between the two leaders this year, following Putin’s visit to Beijing earlier in 2023. Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov indicated that the pipeline project would be a key topic during both the SCO summit and other bilateral engagements. However, he did not specify whether a final agreement on the long-delayed project would be reached.
The Power of Siberia 2 is a major infrastructure undertaking planned to transport up to 50 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually from Russia’s Arctic Yamal gas fields to China through Mongolia. The pipeline, first proposed in 2006, spans approximately 2,600 kilometers and is seen as a critical element in expanding energy ties between Russia and China.
President Xi began a state visit to Kyrgyzstan on August 30, in conjunction with the 25th anniversary meeting of the SCO, a Eurasian security alliance originally established by six member states to combat terrorism, extremism, and separatism. Membership has since expanded to include India, Pakistan, Iran, and Belarus, broadening the organization's focus to encompass economic cooperation and regional connectivity.
This year’s summit takes place amid ongoing geopolitical tensions affecting some SCO members. Russia’s military conflict in Ukraine shows no signs of abating, while Iran, which joined the SCO in 2023, remains entangled in disputes with the United States. Tehran’s recent decision to limit traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime corridor responsible for roughly 25% of the world’s seaborne oil shipments, has further complicated global energy dynamics.
China relies heavily on the Strait of Hormuz for its energy imports, with approximately half of its seaborne crude oil projected to pass through the strait by 2025. Nevertheless, China’s extensive pipeline network stretching across Russia and Central Asia offers an alternative overland supply route, reducing vulnerability to maritime disruptions.
The SCO summit convenes leaders from Eurasia to address collective security and economic matters, signaling growing regional cooperation and a possible counterbalance to Western-led international institutions. The talks between Xi and Putin on the Power of Siberia 2 project underscore the continued deepening of energy and strategic ties between the two countries amid an increasingly complex global environment.