Russia, China Try to Finish Gas Talks before Putin’s Visit

Moscow and Beijing plan to wrap up a decade of talks on supplies of Russian natural gas before President Vladimir Putin's expected to travel to China next month, a deputy prime minister said on Monday.

Deputy prime minister Arkady Dvorkovich, speaking after a visit to China last week, also said Chinese companies wanted to invest in the former Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea taken over by Russia last month.

"On gas, the talks are drawing to a close, and there's a common intention to finish this work before the Russian president's visit in May of this year," Dvorkovich told a government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

Gazprom and CNPC signed a framework agreement in 2009 which could eventually see almost 70 billion cubic metres of Russian gas sent to China annually for the next 30 years.

"We've agreed that we will take a look at new projects including in our new regions and our Chinese colleagues who are involved in alternative energy are eyeing with interest taking part in these projects in the Republic of Crimea," said Dvorkovich.

He also said Russia and China agreed to boost cooperation in coal, power, oil and oil products.

(yahoo.com  Edited by Topco)