Russian, Chinese presidents task companies to agree on delivery terms via Power of Siberia 2 as soon as possible - Deputy PM Novak

ASTANA. July 3 (Interfax) - The Russian and Chinese leaders have instructed the two countries' responsible companies to agree on the terms of gas supply via the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline "as soon as possible," Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak told reporters.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana on Wednesday.

Following the meeting, Novak told reporters that the Power of Siberia 2 project was "also discussed and backed."

"We will continue to negotiate the conditions and parameters. Instructions have been given to do it as soon as possible," Novak said.

Novak did not specify possible deadlines for signing the contract or starting supplies, "No one is giving a date [for signing the contract], because it is a negotiation process." The timeframe for the start of supplies is "a subject of negotiations between the two countries and the two companies," he added.