Putin told reporters: “These agreements (related to ‘Power of Siberia 2’) are not connected to our meeting (Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping). They are simply the result of many years of work by economic entities on both sides (Russia and China).”

The Russian president is in China from August 31 to September 3. He participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit and held a series of bilateral meetings on its sidelines. Then, a trilateral meeting was held in Beijing between Russia, China, and Mongolia, and Putin and the Chinese president held bilateral talks.