Putin's China energy deals may turn out to be paper tigers as growth slows

Moscow

VLADIMIR Putin's long-heralded visit to Beijing last week yielded five framework energy deals that bolster Russian hopes of strengthening ties with China as relations sour with the US and Europe. Yet if history is any guide, most of the accords won't bear fruit.

"Heads of agreements are multiplying at a furious pace," Sergei Tsyplakov, head of the Sberbank…