Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov said on Monday that Russian and Chinese companies were finalizing the study on economic feasibility, potential ecological consequences and investments for a branch to China from the planned Siberian pipeline to the Pacific coast.

Fradkov, who was in China from November 2-4 for the 10th Sino-Russian Prime Ministers' Meeting, told Russian President Vladimir Putin that the two countries had reiterated that they would build a branch to China from the planned pipeline, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

On Russia-China cooperation in electricity projects, he said Russia's exports to China could be increased to 40 billion to 60 billion kw-hours provided that Russia's power generation capability improved and export prices readjusted.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov said in his report to Putin that oil shipment by railway to China would be slightly less than the planned volume of 10 million tons for this year.

He did not elaborate on the cause of the decrease but said it had nothing to do with transportation capabilities. In 2006, Zhukov said, Russia's oil exports to China would reach 15 million tons.

(Xinhua News Agency November 9, 2005)