And the deal comes just as there are rumors that the Saudis are willing to cut the price of oil they sell.
Russia becomes the primary gas/oil supplier for a hugely thirsty China, and trades in Yuan/rubles, instead of dollars.
As usual, Obama is a day late, and a dollar short.
They can trade in yuan and rubles if they want. But they can only spend rubles in Russia and they can only spend yuan in China.