The Power of Siberia natural gas pipeline to carry Russian gas to China started operations on Monday, according to international media outlets.
Both Russian president Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony via a teleconference call, Russian News Agency TASS reported.
'This year marks 70 years since diplomatic ties were established (between Russia and China), and this year we start the supplies of Russian pipeline gas to China,' Putin said.
'That step brings the Russian-Chinese strategic partnership in the energy sector to a whole new level and puts us closer to fulfilling the task of bringing bilateral trade turnover to $200 billion in 2024, which was set together with Chinese President Xi Jinping,' Putin added.
A sales and purchase agreement for the pipeline was signed with Russian partner Gazprom and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) in May 2014 for the supply of 38 billion cubic meters per year of Russian gas to China for a period of 30 years.
By Talha Yavuz
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr