China, Russia to fully implement gas deal

BEIJING - China will make joint efforts with Russia to fully implement a gas deal signed on Wednesday between the two countries, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Thursday.

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At a daily press briefing, spokesman Hong Lei said the gas deal is significant to both countries.

China and Russia on Wednesday signed a long-awaited gas deal in Shanghai, ending a decade of natural gas supply talks between the two neighbors.

The 30-year deal came one day after visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin said that "significant progress" had been made over price.

Two documents, the China and Russia Purchase and Sales Contract on East Route Gas Project and a memorandum, were signed at a ceremony attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Putin.

Hong said the gas deal is an important achievement in strengthening the comprehensive energy cooperation partnership and the China-Russia comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and it embodies the principles of mutual trust and mutual benefit.

The gas deal is an outcome of the promotion by leaders from China and Russia, the participation by the two governments and the long-term joint efforts of enterprises from both countries, Hong said.

According to a joint statement signed by the two leaders after their talks on Tuesday, they will "establish a comprehensive energy cooperation partnership."