Gas contact: China intends to increase imports of Russian LNG

Beijing is interested in increasing supplies of Russian energy resources, including liquefied natural gas, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui told Izvestia. Experts emphasize that cooperation in this area will help Russia compensate for the loss of the European market, and China will implement a green strategy. However, for export growth, partners need to improve their infrastructure.

LNG exports from Russia to China reached 9.8 million tons

On February 4, Russian President Vladimir Putin held video talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The conversation lasted almost an hour and a half in a friendly manner, and the parties discussed a wide range of issues. The leaders set goals for the further development of trade and economic ties, including in the energy sector, said Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov.

"Russia is a leader in the supply of energy resources to China, and our partnership in the energy sector is mutually beneficial and truly strategic," Vladimir Putin said.

China is interested in increasing the supply of Russian energy resources, including oil, gas, and LNG, and will step up cooperation with Russia in this area. Zhang Hanhui, the republic's ambassador to Moscow, told Izvestia about this even before the conversation between the two leaders.

— But we are faced with problems: first of all, of course, it is logistics — we [will have to] settle it. We have the following advantages for cooperation. Firstly, proximity, these are neighboring countries. Secondly, such cooperation is guaranteed by good relations. Third, you have the resources, you have the goods, we have the market — that's the demand. Naturally, this is in the interests of both sides," the diplomat said.

Russian energy supplies to China have been updating historical records in recent years. In particular, in 2024, Moscow shipped 108.47 million tons of oil to Beijing. The same applies to gas: the volume of supplies through the Power of Siberia reached 38.8 billion cubic meters, which exceeded Gazprom's initial contractual obligations. The latest data from the Chinese customs shows that in 2025, LNG imports from Russia reached 9.8 million tons, which is 18.2% more than a year earlier. Russia's share in natural gas imports to China has grown to 35%, making it the largest source for the third year in a row.

At the same time, the potential for increasing the supply of liquefied natural gas from Russia to China remains. In particular, in 2025 shipments from the Arctic LNG 2 plant began only in September, whereas in 2026 it will operate for a full year. The speed of export of products will directly depend on the availability of tankers and the ice situation on the Northern Sea Route, Igor Yushkov, a leading analyst at the National Energy Security Fund and an expert at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, told Izvestia.

— Starting from April 25, a ban will be imposed on the supply of Russian LNG to the European market under short-term contracts. The volumes of gas that were previously resold by traders to Europe due to more favorable prices will now be sent directly to the Asian market, including China, the expert believes.

Finally, China may start receiving LNG on a regular basis from sanctioned medium-tonnage plants in the Leningrad Region. Despite the lack of Chinese participation in these projects, the purchase of their gas may be attractive to Beijing due to the discount, Yushkov concluded.

Ekaterina Zaklyazminskaya, head of the Center for World Politics and Strategic Analysis at the Institute of China and Modern Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences, noted that the share of the Russian Federation in the republic's LNG market in 2025 was 14.32%, while Australia and Qatar accounted for 29.8% and 28.4%, respectively. A double-digit growth in the Russian share is possible, given that China is accelerating the "green transition" and gas consumption is expected to increase in the country until about 2030.

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Why Russian gas is important for China

The need to increase Russian energy supplies is linked to China's growing economic power. China's share in the global economy is about 18%, and last year alone the country's GDP increased by 5%. Increasing LNG imports from Russia is also necessary to implement strategic development directions and achieve carbon neutrality, the director of the Center for International Studies at the Shanghai Committee of the Chinese Association for Democratic Nation Building told Izvestia Li Xin.

— LNG imports from Russia are a necessary choice. It is reliable for China, and China is a reliable partner for Russia. Of course, the Americans prohibit China from importing oil from Russia in order to pressure and deter the Russian Federation and China. But Beijing will not hesitate in this," the expert says.

By the way, the Trump administration has repeatedly demanded that China turn its back on Russia, threatening to impose duties. The US Congress is considering a bill to impose ultra-high tariffs (up to 500%) on goods from countries that purchase Russian energy resources.

In addition, Washington and Beijing continue their own trade standoff. After the "war of duties" last year, the parties gradually moved towards dialogue. On February 4, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping agreed by phone to meet in person in April. The Chinese leader called on Trump to support peaceful coexistence between the two countries and to approach with caution the issue of supplying American weapons to Taiwan, which Beijing considers its territory.

Gas from the Russian Federation has a number of economic advantages for Beijing compared to other options. It was Russian LNG that helped China reduce import costs. Supplies from Malaysia are the cheapest, but Russia follows it. The price of our liquefied natural gas delivered to China ($509 per 1 ton) is almost comparable to the price of Australia ($510/ton), slightly lower than that of Qatar ($513/ton), and significantly less than the average import price ($518/ton), the scientist told Izvestia. Liu Xu, an employee of the National Academy of Development and Strategy of the Chinese People's University.

According to him, Moscow and Beijing have to solve a number of problems. Chinese companies are facing Western sanctions for imports from the Arctic LNG 2 plant. Restrictions will limit the participation of many of them in the import of Russian gas.

In addition, there are logistical issues. The Northern Sea Route has not yet provided year-round navigation, so LNG supplies from the Yamal and Arctic LNG 2 plants must still bypass Europe, which increases transportation costs and risks.

"If Russia can build and improve LNG transshipment and storage facilities in its eastern regions, such as the Kamchatka Peninsula, and increase the number of icebreaker—class vessels, Russian gas exports to China will be smoother," the expert believes.

It is worth considering the internal competition between pipeline gas and LNG. The Far East gas pipeline is currently being laid, and China, Russia and Mongolia are actively discussing the construction of the Power of Siberia–2. If both of them are put into operation, this will further increase the share of the Russian Federation in imports. Then the Chinese leadership may prefer a more balanced strategy that will affect LNG imports, Liu Xu concluded.

Cooperation in the energy sector is only part of the partnership between Moscow and Beijing. For the third year in a row, the trade turnover has surpassed the landmark mark of $200 billion by a solid margin. The mutual cancellation of visas for tourists has become a new stage, which has significantly improved humanitarian cooperation. Politics remains the cornerstone: the countries are closely coordinated on all global and regional issues, and bilateral relations do not depend on the international situation.