At the press conference after his visit to China on September 3, Putin spoke about the "Siberian Power-2" gas pipeline project between Russia, China and Mongolia, with the following key points:

1. The global demand for energy resources is increasing, including in China and other countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

2. Russia will create a competitive advantage for its "Chinese friends," but Beijing will obtain natural gas at a reasonable market price.

3. The "Siberian Power-2" agreement is mutually beneficial, with no form of charity from either side.

4. The supply through this pipeline could reach 100 billion cubic meters.

In general, Putin expressed three main points:

1. The global demand for energy is strong, and Russia's natural gas does not lack a market. If the West is not interested, the East will be. European sanctions against Russia have not led them to buy Russian natural gas, but China and other Asian countries are eager to do so.

2. China is Russia's "good friend," and in energy cooperation, China has priority. In other words, compared to Japan, South Korea and other East Asian countries, Russia will prioritize ensuring gas supply to China.

3. Brothers should settle accounts clearly, and the Sino-Russian natural gas supply and demand cooperation is entirely a market-driven, mutually beneficial behavior. The gas price will generally refer to the international market price, and there is no situation where one party will "show kindness" and significantly reduce the price for the other. This statement effectively prevents those who maliciously hype up Sino-Russian economic cooperation from spreading their views.

As is well known, the "Siberian Power-2" project has experienced many twists and turns. During this year's Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit, the leaders of China, Russia and Mongolia held talks, basically finalizing this project. "Gazprom" CEO Miller revealed that the project is expected to be completed by 2031 and begin supplying gas to China, with an annual supply of 50 billion cubic meters. Adding the existing "Siberian Power" pipeline and the "Far East Line," Russia's annual gas supply to China will reach 106 billion cubic meters.

Regarding the sensitive issue of gas prices, Miller was somewhat reserved, stating that due to the shorter transportation distance, the price would "objectively be lower than Europe."

Many domestic netizens are concerned that the "Siberian Power-2" pipeline passes through Mongolia, adding many uncertain risks. In fact, this issue should be viewed dialectically. From a positive perspective, this energy artery connecting China, Russia and Mongolia is undoubtedly a bond for deepening economic cooperation among the three countries. It is in the common interest of all three countries to ensure the smooth operation of this gas pipeline. Therefore, some Russian media have stated that the implementation of the "Siberian Power-2" project also marks the formation of the "Natural Gas Alliance" among China, Russia and Mongolia.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7546025226363077171/

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