The People’s Republic of China will extend negotiations on the construction of the Power of Siberia-2 pipeline, which will provide natural gas supplies to Russia through Mongolia. In this respect Wrote The Financial Times (FT) newspaper, citing the report of the experts interviewed.
As the newspaper wrote, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin’s recent visit to China did not lead to the signing of a document in which Beijing would make clear commitments regarding this gas pipeline.
“Beijing has a history of prolonging negotiations for a better deal, as it did while Power of Siberia 1 negotiations were underway,” Alicia Bachulska, a China policy expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told the newspaper.
According to him, China is in no hurry to implement the project due to the delay in Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine. Thus, Penkin can negotiate more favorable terms with Moscow, since the Russian side has no alternative but gas distribution channels.
In the first half of April, Maria Belova, Research Director of Vygon Consulting, expression The view that Russian gas through Power of Siberia 2 appears to be a more attractive project for China than supply from hostile countries. At the same time, the aggravation of the situation around Taiwan will be an incentive to accelerate the project.