Pipeliners

BEIJING. March 16 (Interfax) - Russia and China may continue discussions of the construction of a Russian-Chinese oil pipeline during the Russian leadership's upcoming visit to China, Russian Ambassador in Beijing Sergei Razov said on Thursday. "Transneft and China National Petroleum Corporation are conducting practical consultations on particular issues. These matters concern the possible construction of a branch from the East Siberia - the Pacific Ocean pipeline from Skovorodino to the Chinese border. I believe negotiations on this issue will be continued during the visit," Razov said at a joint press conference with Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Li Hui in Beijing. "Energy cooperation remains among the priorities of Russian-Chinese interaction in the trade-economic area," the Russian diplomat said. "The energy industry and hydrocarbons are our priorities. These are advantages given to us by nature and by God and we will use them on a mutually complementary principle," he said. Russia plans to ship 15 million tonnes of oil to China by rail alone in 2006 and the two countries are also discussing possible shipments of Russian gas and electricity to China, Razov said. Talking about other Russian commodities that can be exported to China, Razov said, "Unfortunately, the share of machinery and equipment in the structure of Russian exports to China declined to extremely small figures in 2005," he said. Russian companies should be more active in competing on the Chinese market, offering hi-tech products, studying the Chinese market and organizing promotions and exhibitions, Razov said. "An important task is to shift the focus from simple trade to industrial cooperation and mutual investments and the organization of the processing of seafood, forest products and hydrocarbons," he said.