Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in a recent interview with Russian media that relevant companies of the two countries should spare no time in implementing the projects of laying oil and natural gas pipelines extending from Russia to China.

Wen had an interview with Itar-Tass News Agency and Interfax News Agency in Beijing before making an official visit to Russia next week.

During the interview, Wen said these projects have been decided by both China and Russia on a mutually beneficial and win-win basis.

Wen stressed that stepping up energy cooperation is an important consensus that has already been reached between China and Russia, adding that cooperation in this field has made good progress in recent years.

Relevant government departments of the two countries have conducted effective communication and coordination. Energy companies of the two countries are discussing and implementing a series of major cooperative projects in such aspects as oil, natural gas, electricity and energy equipment manufacturing. China-Russia energy cooperation is seeing ever expanding scope and increasingly varied forms, Wen said.

(Xinhua News Agency November 2, 2007)