Russia has agreed to provide 38 billion cubic meters of natural gas to China each year. The deal was struck during talks in Beijing on Monday between Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Qishan and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich on the sidelines of the meeting of the China-Russia Energy Cooperation Committee.

Vice-Premier Wang Qishan meets his Russian counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich. They held talks on energy cooperation between the two countries (Photo: chinadaily)

Wang said the countries should "accelerate consultations and wrap up the agreements''. Russian officials agreed at the meeting to guarantee the annual supply of natural gas through the east pipeline to China, and both countries will continue to study the possibility of supplying gas through the west pipeline. Wang said this deal is a milestone in energy cooperation, which plays an important role in bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership to benefit both peoples.