Russian President Departs China Without Pipeline Agreement

The Russian president left Beijing without an agreement on a long-stalled gas pipeline that officials had sought during the visit. The trip reflected shared positions between the two countries on a U.S.-led world order. Chinese officials welcomed the Russian president with ceremonies similar to those held for the U.S. president the previous week.

The absence of a pipeline deal illustrated limits in the relationship between the two partners, according to reporting from the BBC. Observers noted a growing imbalance between the countries during the visit. The back-to-back visits from the U.S. president and the Russian president positioned Chinese officials as central figures in international diplomacy.

Chinese officials are reportedly scheduled to travel to North Korea next week.