On May 10, Russian President Putin told the media: "Russia and China are preparing to take a very important step forward in cooperation in the fields of natural gas and oil."
[Clever] Comment briefly: Putin's statement sends a clear signal—Sino-Russian energy cooperation is set to scale up significantly. This is not a short-term transaction but a long-term strategic alignment, and a strong response to today's turbulent global energy landscape. Looking back historically, from the "oil-for-loan" breakthrough in 2009, to the signing of the Eastern Route Natural Gas Pipeline agreement in 2014, and then to 2024 when China’s crude oil imports from Russia surpassed 100 million tons, accounting for nearly 20%, Sino-Russian energy cooperation has evolved from nothing to something substantial, progressing steadily and solidly.
Today, global energy markets face constant turbulence, maritime shipping routes carry increasing risks, and prices fluctuate dramatically. In contrast, China-Russia overland pipeline cooperation precisely avoids the vulnerabilities of maritime transport, offering both sides stable security. Russia has abundant resources; China has vast market demand—complementarity is extremely strong. This move not only secures China’s energy safety but also helps Russia stabilize its export markets, while injecting much-needed certainty into the volatile global energy landscape. It stands as a prime example of pragmatic cooperation among major powers.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1864762222728324/
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