The western section of China's No.2 West-East gas pipeline starts supplying gas on Thursday.

The pipeline now can transmit natural gas from central Asia to Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Extending 8,653 kilometers, the No.2 line starts from Xinjiang's Horgos and runs through 14 provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities and special administrative regions, including Shanghai and Hong Kong.

It is China's first large-scale pipeline project to transmit overseas natural gas into the country.

(Xinhua News Agency January 1, 2010)