China, Russia start construction of gas pipeline

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, September 2, 2014
Adjust font size:

 

Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli (L, front) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (R, front) attend a start-of-construction ceremony of the Russian part of the China-Russia East Route natural gas pipeline in Yakutsk, capital city of Saha-Yakutia republic, Russia, Sept. 1, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]



Through the video system, a Gazprom executive in the Chayandin gas field some 1,000 kilometers away spoke on-line with the leaders and the crowd.

After Putin said the word "start" on the microphone, two technicians wearing black helmet and blue jacket began to weld together two giant steel pipes hanging from yellow cranes in the newly paved field lined with trailers and bulldozers. The black pipes bear the bold, white Russian characters of "Power of Siberia ".

Amid cheers and applauds from the crowd, Zhang and Putin went to the field and signed their names on the pipeline with white marker pens. They shook hands and chatted with the two technicians on the site and, at the latter's requirement, signed on their black tool bags.

The historical moment was marked with singing and dances as staff members of the Chinese and Russian oil and gas companies staged a show of ethnic music and dance on the podium. The two sides do have the reasons to celebrate as large-scale energy deals propelled bilateral trade to the target volume of 100 billion U.S. dollars by 2015 and 200 billion U.S. dollars by 2020.

According to introduction, two major gas fields of Chayandin and Kovyktin in eastern Siberia will be developed to supply natural gas with the China-Russia East Route gas pipeline, which will extend from Irkutsk to Vladivostok and then run through northeast and east China. Construction of the pipeline will take about four years.

Earlier in the day, Zhang met with Putin and conveyed to him the warm greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping.

During their meeting in Shanghai in May, the presidents of the two countries agreed to establish a "comprehensive energy cooperation partnership" and have personally advanced the cooperation on the East Route of China-Russia natural gas pipeline, which is a large-scale project of historic and strategic significance, Zhang said, adding that the two sides should implement the leaders' consensus and ensure the smooth progress of the project.

According to Zhang, the practical cooperation between China and Russia is comprehensive, strategic, stable and sustainable. He said China is ready to work with Russia to advance bilateral cooperation to wider areas and higher levels on the basis of reciprocal needs and mutual benefits.

Zhang also expressed the hope that the two countries would advance energy cooperation simultaneously in the areas of oil, natural gas, nuclear energy, coal, electricity and new energy, both through the west and east routes and in the upper and lower chain of the industry.

The Chinese vice premier also urged the two countries to further expand cooperation in investment, trade, finance, transport, culture, tourism, high technology, aviation and aerospace, agricultural produces, housing, infrastructure development and local governments, while carrying out even more large-scale strategic projects that is oriented to the future, add new content and impetus to the comprehensive bilateral strategic partnership and make active contribution to the common development of the two countries and to peace and stability of the world.

Putin asked Zhang to convey his good will to President Xi, saying he expects to meet with Xi again soon.

Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation.
   Previous   1   2  


Print E-mail Bookmark and Share

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)

No comments.

Add your comments...

  • User Name Required
  • Your Comment
  • Enter the words you see:   
    Racist, abusive and off-topic comments may be removed by the moderator.
Send your storiesGet more from China.org.cnMobileRSSNewsletter