MOSCOW, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir

Putin said on Wednesday that the planned Power of Siberia 2 gas

pipeline would give competitive benefits to China because the

world's biggest energy consumer would get gas at a price based

on a market formula.

Russia and China gave their blessing to the vast pipeline

but have yet to agree on pricing, Gazprom said on Tuesday,

underscoring President Xi Jinping's disregard for Western

demands that he row back from a deepening partnership with

Moscow.