BEIJING, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Russian Prime Minister Putin said here on Tuesday that Russia and China are working on a huge oil and gas cooperation project.

    In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, Putin said the two countries have signed a 20-year oil supply agreement and laid more than 2,000 kilometers of crude oil pipelines for this.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) is interviewed by Peng Shujie (2nd R), deputy chief editor of Xinhua News Agency, Ma Li (3rd R), deputy chief editor of People's Daily, and Shui Junyi, TV host from China Central Television (CCTV), in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 13, 2009. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo) Photo Gallery>>>

    China is also laying on its side the corresponding pipeline, he said, adding the two counties are studying the feasibility of building a refinery in China.

    Putin said as the world's nuclear power, Russia keeps an open mind towards cooperation in this field.

    "Russia and China are very active in the nuclear energy cooperation, "Putin said, citing the Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant as a good example.

    Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant, located in the Lianyungang city in eastern China's Jiangsu Province, is so far the largest nuclear power cooperative program between China and Russia.

    Putin said Russia is willing to supply coal to China and the supply is increasing rapidly, noting China has good equipment and technology on coal processing.

    As for natural gas cooperation, Putin said negotiations are underway and would certainly yield satisfactory results.

    On the specific ways of gas supply and the pricing, he said those issues should be resolved at the enterprise level.

    "The most important thing is that Russia and China have the need and capacity to enhance cooperation and the two economies are complementary to each other," Putin said, adding such cooperation would last for decades.

    With regard to the problems and frictions in the bilateral trade, Putin said those small problems would not impact the general strategic cooperation between the two countries.

    He took the "gray custom clearance" as an example. It was the name given to the illegal practice of getting items across the border without official customs approval.

    The illegal practice would make the government unable to supervise domestic industries and lead to bankruptcies and unemployment, which might cause more troubles to the society against the backdrop of the financial crisis, he said.

    Putin called upon the two countries to establish a set of unified rules, which would be obeyed by both sides, so as to achieve a just, sound and civilized mechanism of cooperation.




China, Russia sign 12 agreements during Putin's visit

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R Front) shakes hands with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L Front) after signing the joint communique of the 14th regular prime ministers' talks between China and Russia, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 13, 2009. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- China and Russia signed 12 agreements, including agreements on natural gas and oil, as the premiers of the two countries held their 14th regular meeting in Beijing on Tuesday.

    The signing ceremony was overseen by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin after their talks in the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing. Full story

China's Wen, Russia's Putin attend celebration for six-decade diplomatic ties

    BEIJING, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- With folk dances and songs, China and Russia Tuesday night celebrated the 60th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations.

    Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin attended the evening gala at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing. Full story

Russia attaches great importance to cooperation at regional level with China: Russian PM 

    BEIJING, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said here Tuesday Russia attached great importance to cooperation with China at the regional level.

    He made the remarks in an interview with Chinese media Tuesday during his first official visit to China since he took office as prime minister last May. Full story

Russia-China cooperation important cornerstone of world stability, says Putin

    BEIJING, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Russia-China cooperation is one of the most important cornerstones of the world stability, said Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin here on Tuesday.

    Putin told Chinese press that such cooperation played important role in solving series of international sensitive issues and in safeguarding world peace and development. Full story

Chinese, Russian negotiators meet again on energy co-op

  BEIJING, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and Russian negotiators met again in Beijing Tuesday "to exchange views on China-Russia energy cooperation," according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement.

    It was the second meeting within three days between Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin. They co-hosted the fifth round of Sino-Russian energy negotiators' meetings on Sunday. Full story