Energy Aspect to Dominate Russia-China Economic Cooperation

Energy will be a major aspect of economic co-operation between Russia and China, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said Thursday as addressing an Internet conference at the Chinese Renmin Ribao daily.

Gazprom, Russia's natural gas giant, will be involved in building a gas pipeline across China, West-East, and in gas production and building a gas distribution net in that country, reported Mr Ivanov. Meanwhile China-based companies are looking into a possibility of getting engaged in developing oil fields in Russia.

A series of major bilateral and multilateral export projects involving China are being elaborated at the moment. They will be implemented in line with Russia's programme for the use of oil and natural gas resources of Siberia and the Far East, according to Mr Ivanov.

China's business community has recently displayed an intense interest in investing in the Russian economy, noted the minister. This, above all, refers to the hi-tech area and home appliances assemblies. There will be selected a few pilot investment programmes, the minister said assuring that Chinese companies to be involved would be rendered every assistance at all levels.