China, Russia to Begin Work on Gas Pipeline

China and Russia are set to begin construction of the natural gas pipeline in Russia's eastern Siberia this weekend, reports Xinhua news agency.

Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli flew in from Moscow to Yakutsk, the capital city of Russia's Sakha (Yakutia) Republic, Sunday evening to attend a start-of-construction ceremony for the Russian part of the East Route of the China-Russia natural gas pipeline, the news agency said.

Earlier this year, China and Russia on signed the much delayed gas supply deal in Beijing.

'China and Russia Purchase and Sales Contract on East Route Gas Project' was signed at a ceremony attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin in May.

As per the deal, Russia will supply 38 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually from 2018 via east route pipeline for a period of 30 years.

Gas will be supplied from eastern Siberia and Sakha Republic Kovykta gas field. Gazprom would be responsible for field development, gas processing plants and pipelines in Russia. CNPC will be responsible for construction of facilities within China.