Putin and Xi to discuss Power of Siberia 2 pipeline at SCO summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet next week at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. According to Kremlin foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov, a primary topic of their discussions will be the proposed Power of Siberia 2 pipeline. The ambitious infrastructure project, which spans 2,600 kilometers, is designed to transport 50 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually from Siberia to China via Mongolian territory.

Despite the project's significance, development has remained stalled for years due to persistent disagreements over pricing structures between the two nations. During the summit, President Putin is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to address the situation in the Black Sea and developments in Ukraine. Additionally, the Russian leader has scheduled talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to discuss regional and international cooperation.