China starts work on 3,968-km-long gas pipeline with Russia.

China has started construction of the 3,968-km-long gas pipeline to pump 38 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Russia’s far-east to Shanghai as it firmed up energy cooperation with Moscow, which is reeling under U.S. and EU sanctions over the Ukraine crisis.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev joined Chinese Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli in a televised inauguration ceremony that was held simultaneously in Beijing, Moscow and the border city of Heihe in northeast China recently.

Mr. Zhang said the Chinese side was ready to work with the Russian side to ensure that the pipeline was completed and put into operation in 2018.

The pipeline, extending from gas fields in Russia’s Far East to Shanghai, is designed to transport 38 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Russia to China every year.

In a speech at the ceremony, Mr. Zhang said the East Route gas pipeline is the largest China-Russia cooperative project conducive to diversifying energy strategy and guaranteeing the energy security of both countries.

In last September, construction started on the Russian section of the East Route pipeline, also known in Russia as the Power of Siberia pipeline.

THE HINDU