Putin: ‘Politics prevails in the oil pricing’ – Russia to supply more gas to China

During an interview with Chinese media which was released on 6 November 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that the fall of global oil prices which was degrading Russia's economy was in part caused by political manipulation. Mr Putin did not blame any specific country.

The comments were made ahead of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Beijing and a meeting of the Group of 20 major economies in Brisbane, Australia.

Russia has increasingly considered Asia as a potential alternative to the European market, developing efforts to intensify cooperation with Asian markets, and specifically China.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Russia and China launch gas pipeline http://www.europeansources.info/record/russia-and-china-launch-gas-pipeline/

ESO: Background information: Ukraine, Russia, and the China Option http://www.europeansources.info/record/ukraine-russia-and-the-china-option/

President of Russia: News, 06.11.14: Interview to China's leading media companies http://eng.kremlin.ru/news/23193

Euronews, 10.11.14: Russia to supply more gas to China http://www.euronews.com/2014/11/10/russia-to-supply-more-gas-to-china/

Deutsche Welle, 09.11.14: Russia and China sign deal on second gas route http://dw.de/p/1Djh3

The Guardian, 09.11.14: China-US gulf widens as ‘marginalised’ Obama heads for Beijing summit http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/nov/09/us-china-gap-marginalised-obama-summit

Deutsche Welle, 09.11.14: The APEC summit and the people of Beijing http://dw.de/p/1DjfE

The Guardian, 07.11.14: Rouble crashes as Russian economy teeters on brink of recession http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/07/rouble-crashes-russian-economy-brink-recession-currency

The Guardian, 14.11.14: Putin says Russia prepared for oil price collapse as more sanctions threatened http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/14/putin-russia-oil-price-collapse-sanctions-g20

BBC News, 24.11.14: Oil price slide and sanctions 'cost Russia $140bn' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30174650

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