Russia and China "close to reaching gas deal"

Russia and China "close to reaching gas deal"

MOSCOW -- Russia sees its relations with China as a priority, President Vladimir Putin has said ahead of his visit to Shanghai.

According to him, the two countries are close to reaching an agreement on natural gas sales.

Putin gave an interview to the Chinese media on the eve of his visit to China, which, at the time of strained relations with the West over Ukraine, should strengthen the ties between the two nations.

The Russian president said he the gas agreement with China will allow Russia to have more gas export routes, and China to cover its energy needs, the Kremlin said.

Ahead of the visit, senior Russian and Chinese officials are trying to finalize the gas deal which has been prepared on for ten years.

The agreement envisages an annual supply of about 70 billion cubic meters of Russian gas to China over the period of the next 30 years.