头条英文播报｜China, Russia launch gas pipeline

President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin witness the opening ceremony for the China-Russia east-route natural gas pipeline in a video conference on Monday. FENG YONGBIN / CHINA DAILY

Xi, Putin witness opening of massive energy project, hailing significance of cooperation

President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin witnessed via video link on Monday the opening ceremony of the China-Russia east-route natural gas pipeline, a landmark project that will transport natural gas from eastern Siberia through Northeast China to Shanghai.

The two presidents, Xi in Beijing and Putin in Sochi, Russia, greeted each other, and Xi expressed gratitude toward the workers building the pipeline.

Hailing it as a flagship project for China-Russia energy cooperation, Xi called the pipeline a model for China-Russia integrated communication and win-win cooperation.

Xi mentioned that he and Putin witnessed the signing of the document on the pipeline project in 2014. The construction workers overcame difficulties in freezing weather in the past five years to complete the project, which shows the fine technologies of workers in major countries and the fruitful outcomes of China-Russia cooperation, Xi said.

The project's completion is not only an outcome but also a new starting point for cooperation, Xi said, adding that the two nations should work together to build a safe, green, developing and friendly pipeline, make all efforts to ensure its safe construction and operation and promote the sustainable economic and social development of regions along the route.

Noting that this year marks the 70th anniversary of China-Russia diplomatic relations, Xi said the two countries should make further efforts to build more projects like the pipeline to bring more benefits to the people of both sides.

Putin said that the opening of the pipeline has great significance at a time when the two countries are celebrating the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

In the next 30 years, Russia will supply 1 trillion cubic meters of natural gas to China, which will be helpful in implementing the two presidents' consensus of advancing Russia-China trade volume to $200 billion in 2024, Putin said.

Russia would like to make joint efforts with China to ensure the smooth implementation of the flagship project, he added.

Under a 30-year agreement between Russian company Gazprom and China National Petroleum Corp signed in May 2014, the China-Russia east-route pipeline project is expected to pump some 38 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Russia to China annually.

That is equal to about 13.6 percent of China's gas consumption in 2018 of 280.3 billion cubic meters, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.

The pipeline stretches 5,111 kilometers in China and 3,000 km in Russia. Its Chinese section covers six provinces, one autonomous region and two municipalities from Heilongjiang province to Shanghai.

Yana Leksyutina, a professor at the Russian Academy of Sciences, said China has been the largest trade partner for Russia since 2010, and Sino-Russian trade and economic ties have maintained good momentum.

Their cooperation is mainly focused on energy, Leksyutina said, saying some Russian energy megaprojects are being implemented, or are to be launched with Chinese investments, including the Yamal LNG and Arctic LNG 2 liquefied natural gas projects.

She said the first ever Russian-Chinese gas pipeline has tremendous meaning for both countries, as the volume of Russian energy exports to China is expected to grow rapidly. Russia has high hopes for extending cooperation to other fields, such as agriculture, Arctic development, cross-border e-commerce and currency settlements.

记者：安百杰、任奇

播报：Erik Nilsson

原文链接：

https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201912/03/WS5de56af8a310cf3e3557b71c.html

【阅读背景】

习近平同俄罗斯总统普京视频连线 共同见证中俄东线天然气管道投产通气仪式

       新华社北京12月2日电（记者 白洁）国家主席习近平2日下午在北京同俄罗斯总统普京视频连线，共同见证中俄东线天然气管道投产通气仪式。

　　国务院副总理韩正出席仪式。

　　习近平通过视频和正在索契的普京互致问候。

      习近平对管道投产通气表示热烈祝贺，向两国广大建设者致以衷心感谢。习近平指出，东线天然气管道是中俄能源合作的标志性项目，也是双方深度融通、合作共赢的典范。2014年，我同普京总统见证了双方签署项目合作文件。5年多来，两国参建单位密切协作，广大工程建设者爬冰卧雪、战天斗地，高水平、高质量完成建设任务，向世界展现了大国工匠的精湛技艺，展示了中俄合作的丰硕成果。投产通气既是重要阶段性成果，更是新的合作起点。双方要打造平安管道、绿色管道、发展管道、友谊管道，全力保证管道建设和投运安全可靠，促进管道沿线地区经济社会可持续发展。

　　习近平强调，今年是中俄建交70周年，我和普京总统共同宣布发展中俄新时代全面战略协作伙伴关系，一致决定继续将发展中俄关系作为各自外交优先方向，坚定不移深化两国战略协作和各领域合作。当前，中俄两国都处于国家发展的关键时期，中俄关系迈入新时代。希望双方再接再厉，打造更多像东线天然气管道这样的拳头项目，为两国各自发展加油助力，更好造福两国和两国人民。

       普京表示，在俄中两国隆重庆祝建交70周年之际，俄中东线天然气管道投产通气具有重大历史意义，将使两国战略协作达到新的高度。2014年我和习近平主席共同见证该项目合作文件签署以来，双方团队在极端天气下辛勤工作，如期完成了建设，未来30年里俄方将向中方供应1万亿立方米天然气，这将有助于落实我和习近平主席达成的在2024年将俄中双边贸易额提升至2000亿美元的共识。俄方愿与中方共同努力，确保这一标志性战略合作项目顺利实施。

　　中俄代表分别在黑河、阿塔曼斯卡亚和恰扬金3个管道沿线站发言，向两国元首汇报：俄方已准备好向中方供气、中方已准备好接气。

　　普京下达指令“供气！”

　　习近平下达指令“接气！”

　　全场响起热烈的掌声。

　　杨洁篪、王毅、何立峰等出席上述活动。

　　中俄东线天然气管道起自俄罗斯东西伯利亚，由布拉戈维申斯克进入我国黑龙江省黑河。俄罗斯境内管道全长约3000公里，我国境内段新建管道3371公里，利用已建管道1740公里。

原文链接：

http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/leaders/2019-12/02/c_1125299456.htm

中文来源：新华网