MOSCOW, October 9 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian government will provide full support for the construction of infrastructure and operation of the future gas pipeline to supply Russian gas to China, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Thursday.
In May, Russia's energy giant Gazprom signed a $400-billion contract with CNPC (China National Petroleum Corporation) to export 38 billion cubic meters of Russian gas to China annually for a 30-year period.
"At the highest level, these companies will be provided with full support in the development, construction and operation of the gas transportation infrastructure, which is necessary for supplying Russian gas to our Chinese partners," Medvedev said at a government meeting.
The construction of the 3,000-kilometer (1,860-mile) Power of Siberia pipeline, which will be used for the deliveries of Russian gas to China, was launched in Yakutia on September 1. Deliveries are scheduled to start in 2018.
According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the new gas pipeline will significantly strengthen Russia's economic cooperation with the governments of the Asia-Pacific region.
Moscow and Beijing are expected to sign the relevant intergovernmental agreement on gas deliveries in the near future.
