No Pipeline Deal – But What Did Putin Secure in China?

Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly failed to secure a deal to construct the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline during his trip to China from May 19 to 20 – though he did manage to secure 41 deals of varying significance.

The proposed pipeline, which could have netted Moscow 50 billion cubic meters of annual natural gas sales to China via Mongolia, has faced hurdles since its inception, in part due to Beijing’s cautious approach. Mongolia, whose territories the pipeline would transit through, also did not include it in its development plans back in 2024, projected until 2028.

That said, beyond the symbolic diplomatic recognition by Beijing, Putin and his entourage – comprising top management and ministers – have secured 41 deals on trade, education, technology, nuclear security and beyond, plus a joint statement that criticized the US and Europe.

What does the joint statement say?

The joint statement can be seen as a consolidation of bilateral ties and an abstract of the deals signed by Beijing and Moscow during Putin’s visit.

In it, the two sides included a number of pledges to deepen their partnership across defense, energy, trade, technology, infrastructure, media, and global governance.

The document also shows where China stands on certain issues, such as sanctions and Iran.

The two sides criticized Western sanctions, the US’s abduction of former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, and what both countries describe as “hegemonic interference” in global affairs, while promoting a “multipolar world order.”

The statement also sheds light on Beijing’s positions on various issues – including Ukraine, Taiwan, Iran, and the Asia-Pacific – while calling for expanded cooperation through groups such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

The full statement in Chinese is published by the Chinese state media Xinhua.

What does it say about Ukraine?

On Ukraine, Beijing mirrored Moscow’s narrative on the need to resolve the “root cause” of the Russian invasion, while also calling for a “lasting peace architecture built on the basis of full, complete, and comprehensive adherence to the principles of the UN Charter.”

“To this end, both sides supported all efforts conducive to achieving long-term sustainable peace and supported continuing to seek solutions through dialogue and negotiation,” the statement adds.

The irony in the statement notwithstanding, Beijing’s position on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine remains unchanged from previous remarks.

What did it say about the US?

More telling was how Beijing and Moscow criticized the US – through both direct accusations and thinly veiled references – despite Chinese leader Xi Jinping having hosted US President Donald Trump just days before meeting Putin.

The statement accuses the US of nuclear escalation by not signing the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) with Russia, threatening stability by attacking Iran, violating international order by “the forced abduction and trial of heads of state” (referring to the regime change in Venezuela) and other developments such as the so-called “militarization of high-latitude regions by the United States,” which may or may not be a reference to Trump’s Greenland gambit.

What did it say about nukes?

Particular irony is seen in the subject of nuclear control in the joint statement.

In it, the two accused other countries – some named, some not – of ramping up nuclear rhetoric and discussing the deployment of nukes in non-nuclear states.

“Both sides expressed concern over statements made by some nominally non-nuclear-weapon states in Europe that have a pro-nuclear stance, and called on the International Atomic Energy Agency to pay close attention and ensure due oversight of the nuclear materials and activities of such states,” the statement says.

This is likely a reference to Europe’s discussion on a so-called nuclear umbrella deployed across the EU, backed by French nuclear weapons, in light of dwindling US support.

The statement made no mention of Russia’s deployment of nuclear missiles in Belarus and the recent nuclear drill in the country.

The statement also voices “deep concern over Japan’s long-term stockpiling of sensitive nuclear materials with no credible civilian use” without mentioning North Korea’s nuclear programs, now potentially receiving Moscow’s technological support.

What did Putin secure in his Beijing visit?

While Putin secured Beijing’s symbolic backing in the joint statement, the 41 deals signed – excluding those that might not be publicized – provided little substantive support.

In short, Russia secured some trade agreements that might help ease the imbalance between the two countries, with China remaining Russia’s largest trading partner while Russia accounts for just 4% of China’s total trade, according to Al Jazeera.

Specific items mentioned include a “protocol” on compound feed exports, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on “developing sustainable trade on important industrial products,” and an agreement to standardize the rail gauge between Manzhouli in China and Zabaikal in Russia, which could speed up rail freight for cross-border logistics.

The listed documents comprise numerous memorandums and “joint declarations” on experience exchange and personnel training between customs and monitoring bodies.

Several agreements also concern the joint development of nuclear energy, with nuclear fusion – a potentially groundbreaking and more sustainable form of power generation than current nuclear fission – specifically mentioned in both the joint statement and the agreements signed.

Less notable mentions include a range of documents on cultural and educational exchanges, including exchange and research programs between top universities in both countries, as well as news exchanges and joint documentary production between Chinese and Russian state media.

What deals were signed?

HK01, a pro-Beijing outlet based in Hong Kong, compiled a full list of documents signed by China and Russia.

1. “Joint Statement of the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation on Promoting a Multipolar World and a New Type of International Relations”
2. “Memorandum of Understanding Between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Russian Federation on Cooperation in the Field of Urban Development”
3. “Agreement Between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Russian Federation on the Joint Construction of the Second 1435mm-Gauge Cross-Border Railway Line Between Manzhouli and Zabaykalsk”
4. “Memorandum of Understanding Between the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China and Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation on Scientific and Technological Cooperation in the Field of Controlled Nuclear Fusion”
5. “Joint Statement Between the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation on Supporting Open Trade and Multilateralism”
6. “Memorandum of Understanding Between the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation on Developing Sustainable Trade in Key Industrial Products”
7. “Memorandum of Understanding Between the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China and the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation on Cooperation in Customs Personnel Education and Training”
8. “Protocol Between the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China and the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance of the Russian Federation on Quarantine and Sanitary Requirements for Russian Compound Feed Exported to China”
9. “Memorandum of Understanding Between the State Administration for Market Regulation of the People’s Republic of China and the Federal Antimonopoly Service of the Russian Federation (2026-27)”
10. “Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation Between the China National Intellectual Property Administration and the Federal Service for Intellectual Property of the Russian Federation”
11. “Memorandum of Understanding on Scientific and Technological Cooperation Between the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation”
12. “Memorandum of Understanding Between the China Atomic Energy Authority and Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation on Cooperation in Workforce Development for the Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy”
13. “Memorandum of Understanding Between the China Film Administration and the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation on Co-Production of Films”
14. “Joint Activities Program (2026-27) Between the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (National Academy of Governance) and the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration”
15. “Cooperation Agreement Between People’s Daily and TASS of the Russian Federation”
16. “Agreement on News Exchange and Cooperation Between China Daily and the Russian State Media Group”
17. “Memorandum Between Xinhua News Agency and TASS of the Russian Federation on Holding a Series of Events Marking the 70th Anniversary of Bilateral Cooperation Relations”
18. “Agreement Between China Media Group and the All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company on Deepening Cooperation in Documentary and Special Report Production”
19. “Cooperation Memorandum Between Tsinghua University and Saint Petersburg State University on Jointly Establishing the China-Russia Institute for Innovation Research”
20. “Strategic Partnership Agreement Between Peking University and the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology on Joint Talent Training and Scientific Research Cooperation”
21. “Agreement Between Harbin Institute of Technology and Saint Petersburg State University on Jointly Establishing the China-Russia School of Excellence in Engineering”
22. “Memorandum of Understanding Between the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation on Cooperation in Innovation”
23. “Memorandum of Understanding Between the National Energy Administration of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation on Cooperation in the Field of Green Certificates”
24. “Memorandum Between Xinhua News Agency and Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency on Holding the 2026 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Experts Forum”
25. “Agreement on News Exchange and Cooperation Between Xinhua News Agency and the Russian State Media Group”
26. “Memorandum of Cooperation Between Xinhua News Agency and Gazprom Media Holding on Training Talent in Professional and Vocational Education”
27. “Memorandum of Cooperation Between China Media Group and the Ministry of Sport of the Russian Federation”
28. “Deepened Cooperation Agreement Between China Media Group and the Russian State Media Group”
29. “Memorandum of Cooperation Between China Media Group and the Financial University Under the Government of the Russian Federation”
30. “Agreement Between China Media Group and Russian Mobile Communications Media on Joint Program Production Within the Framework of the China-Russia Year of Education”
31. “Cooperation Agreement Between China Media Group and the Roscongress Foundation”
32. “Joint Development Roadmap for the China-Russia Institute of Basic Science Research (2026–2030)”
33. “Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Business Cooperation Between Harbin Institute of Technology and Saint Petersburg State University”
34. “Memorandum of Understanding Between the People’s Government of Shandong Province and Shandong University of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Tatarstan and Kazan Federal University of the Russian Federation”
35. “Agreement Between Beijing Foreign Studies University and Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia on Cooperation in the Field of Russian Language Studies”
36. “Memorandum of Understanding Between Beijing Foreign Studies University and the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs of the Russian Federation on Cooperation in Education and Youth Policy”
37. “Cooperation Agreement Between Nankai University and Moscow State University”
38. “Agreement on Scientific and Educational Cooperation Between Sichuan University and Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia”
39. “Cooperation Agreement Between Sichuan University and Moscow State University”
40. “Memorandum of Understanding Between East China Normal University and the Russian Agency for Strategic Initiatives to Promote New Projects”
41. “Dual-Degree Master’s Program Agreement Between Fudan University and the National Research University Higher School of Economics of Russia”