China-Russia: Disagreement Over Energy Deal Reveals Underlying Tensions

In his first visit to China after securing a third presidential term, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao issued a joint statement pledging greater cooperation on a number of economic issues, but a natural gas trade agreement was conspicuously absent. The point of contention was said to be price, but the real sticking point is of much larger strategic importance, as LIGNET explains.

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