FT: Putin courts China as west turns away

For months, the anticipated centrepiece of Russian president Vladimir Putin’s visit to China has been the signing of a long-term gas supply agreement.

Discussions between Gazprom, Russia’s state-controlled gas company, and the Chinese government have dragged on for a decade, but are finally nearing completion amid the deterioration of Russia’s relations with the west over Ukraine.

According to both Chinese and Russian sources, the two sides are still haggling over pricing terms. On Monday, on the eve of his trip, Mr Putin told Chinese state television the gas negotiation was “nearly finalised”. A person close to Gazprom said the two sides could sign a deal even without a final agreement on price.
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