Xi, Putin to Meet in Bishkek for Major Gas Pipeline Talks

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet in Bishkek on Monday, where they will discuss the Power of Siberia 2 natural gas pipeline project, the Kremlin confirmed. The meeting in Kyrgyzstan’s capital will mark the second face-to-face encounter between the two leaders this year. Their previous talks took place in Beijing, shortly after a visit to China by US President Donald Trump. “The issue will be discussed bilaterally,” Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov told Russian news agencies on Friday. The Power of Siberia 2 pipeline is a key energy project that would carry natural gas from Russia to China, potentially strengthening Moscow’s energy exports and Beijing’s supply security. Details of the project’s timeline and capacity are expected to be central to the leaders’ discussions.