Gazprom, CNPC talks on gas exports

Russia's gas giant Gazprom and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) have been entering the final stretch in the talks on Russian gas exports to China. "We’ve already been entering the final stretch as concerns the supply of Russia’s natural gas to China," Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin told a news conference after the talks with his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao on Tuesday. Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin said the two countries would specify a roadmap on gas exports within two weeks. "We proceed from the assumption that parameters of cooperation take into account the interests of both consumers and suppliers," he said. "We’ve agreed that within the upcoming two weeks we will specify in detail a roadmap that will analyze a consumption balance, sources of supplies and the place of Gazprom in this structure of supplies."