|
Putin to visit China, oil pipeline on agenda
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-03-16 16:17
Russian President Vladimir Putin will discuss the possibility of building an
oil pipeline from eastern Siberia to China, Russian Ambassador Sergei Razov said
in Beijing Thursday morning.
Russian Ambassador
to China Sergei Razov. [newsphoto] | Razov told a press conference that
discussions on the feasibility of the construction of an oil pipeline extending
from Russia's Skovorodino to the Russia-China border are underway between
Transneft of Russia and China National Petroleum Corporation, which are to take
charge of the pipeline construction.
The proposed pipeline will be a
branch of a planned oil pipeline that runs from eastern Siberia to Russia's
Pacific coast.
Lazov said Russia-China cooperation in the field of
energy is "very important." He expressed the hope that during President Putin's
visit to China from March 21 to 22, the heads of state of the two countries will
reach new agreement on energy development.
Energy cooperation between
Russia and China has a broad prospect and bright future, Lazov said.
Lazov and Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Li Hui held a joint press
conference on the Year of Russia to be held in China. Russian President Putin
and Chinese President Hu Jintao will jointly inaugurate the event in Beijing
next week.
Lazov said Russia plans to supply 15 million tons of crude
oil to China by railways in 2006. In addition, the two countries are discussing
exports of natural gas to China.
He said relevant corporations of Russia
and China are jointly studying the feasibility and plan of exporting gas to
China.
The current task of the two sides is to complete the business
discussions, which are key to the signing of a large-scale contract of gas
supply, Lazov said.
On the cooperation on nuclear energy, Lazov said
construction of the Tianwan nuclear plant in Lianyungang in East China's Jiangsu
Province is the largest project in the two countries' bilateral economic
cooperation. The project will lay the foundation for future cooperation on
peaceful use of nuclear energy, he said.
Lazov said Russia is willing to
play an active role in the development and implementation of China's nuclear
power plan.
Nuclear energy cooperation is of mutual benefit to the two
countries and has broad prospects, Lazov said.
|
| |
|
| |