Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for high-stakes talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, aiming to leverage global energy disruptions from the war in Iran to finalize a long-delayed contract for the planned Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline.

The state visit, Putin’s first foreign trip of the year, comes as Moscow seeks to deepen energy links with its vital economic partner. With European markets largely cut off due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, Russia is heavily reliant on China to cushion the impact of Western sanctions.

Kremlin officials hope the conflict in the Middle East, which has disrupted shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, will push Beijing to prioritize energy security and accept a competitive pricing proposal from state energy giant Gazprom.

"The gas pipeline project is on the agenda, and we’re committed to discussing it seriously," Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said, adding that the leaders would discuss the topic "in great detail."

The proposed Power of Siberia 2 pipeline would transport natural gas from Siberia through Mongolia to China. While Gazprom recently made a highly competitive pricing offer, Chinese counterparts have historically stalled, wary of becoming overly dependent on a single supplier. 

However, the conflict in Iran has shifted Beijing's calculus, forcing it to look toward secure, overland energy routes.

Following the outbreak of the war in Iran, Beijing noted in March that it aims to accelerate progress on the pipeline as part of its five-year economic plan, with Russian officials have setting a goal to finalize gas pricing by September.

Putin is accompanied by a massive delegation, including five deputy prime ministers, eight cabinet ministers, and Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina. Beyond energy, the talks will focus on expanding land-based trade corridors and Arctic shipping routes.

While China views Moscow as a critical partner in countering U.S. global dominance, analysts note that Russia enters the negotiations as the junior partner, as it currently relies on China for more than 90% of its imported technology.