MOSCOW, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Energy cooperation between China and Russia benefits both sides and will be enhanced further, a top Chinese trade official said Friday.

    "Energy cooperation plays a key role in bilateral cooperation. As an important oil and gas exporter, Russia, with its abundant energy reserves, has a broad prospect of cooperation with China, a large energy importer and consumer in the world," Yu Guangzhou, Vice Minister of Commerce, told a news conference in Moscow.

    According to Yu, Russia has become a main crude oil exporter for China. The two sides are also discussing cooperation in related areas, including joint exploitation of oil and gas fields and the construction of oil and gas pipelines, among other projects.

    Yu arrived in Moscow on Thursday to prepare for the Chinese National Exhibition to be held in Moscow's Krokus EXPO from March 26-29.