China and Russia to turn on gas pipeline tap as neighbours forge stronger energy ties
- Supply diversifies China’s sources of energy as it switches to cleaner fuels, analyst says
The project, a joint agreement between state energy giants China National Petroleum Corporation and Russia’s Gazprom, is part of efforts to bolster economic and diplomatic ties between the two countries, relations that have strengthened over the five years since the project was launched.
In Moscow on Monday, Chinese vice foreign minister Le Yucheng called the project a “major achievement”, marking both the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries and the “entry into a new era of China-Russia comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership”.
Energy collaboration has emerged as a key area in that partnership, matching Russia’s status as a global energy producer with China’s position as the world’s biggest importer and consumer of energy.
The pipeline stretches from Siberian gas fields, crosses underneath the Amur River that runs between the countries, and down into northeast China.
