Russia and China should increase their efforts to get agreement this year on the basic principles of Russian gas supplies to China, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Thursday.
"Currently, we are ready to start work in these two directions (gas supplies to China via the western and eastern routes)," Medvedev said after a BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit in the southern China resort of Sanya.
"We have discussed intensifying work between companies and the relevant departments of both countries to agree terms for gas delivery via the western route and later via the eastern route. We are speaking about this year, to agree the basic terms," he said.
If Russia and China come to terms on price parameters, then the main problem will be resolved, the president said.
"We proceed from the fact that now this is the most important energy issue between the two countries. Our positions are getting closer and I hope that the parties will reach a consensus," Medvedev said.
Gazprom and China National Petroleum Corporation have set up a working group to discuss the commercial and technical terms of a Russian gas supply contract.
The companies plan to sign an export contract by mid-2011, having so far failed to come up with a final agreement on long-term prices. The contract will cover a 30 year period, with annual supply volumes reaching 30 billion cubic meters of gas.
SANYA, China, April 14 (RIA Novosti)
