Russian President Vladimir Putin praised his close ties with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and said their countries are close partners in trade and international affairs as they opened bilateral talks Wednesday on his trip to Beijing.

Moscow says an "understanding" has been reached on the project. China and Russia have long discussed a pipeline, but construction has stalled for years.

China's Xi Jinping welcomed Vladimir Putin in Beijing, touted the countries' "unyielding" ties, and took a loosely veiled jab at Trump's policies.

Putin left Beijing with declarations of enduring friendship with China and a stack of bilateral agreements — but without the energy breakthrough Moscow desperately sought.

The Power of Siberia 2 pipeline could carry 50 billion cubic meters of Russian natural gas annually to China.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin praised the strength of their relationship during talks in Beijing as both countries seek to reinforce bilateral ties in the shadow of wars in Ukraine and Iran.