Easier for Russia and China to agree on Power of Siberia 2, since first pipeline already exists - Chinese ambassador

MOSCOW. April 15 (Interfax) - It will be easier for Russia and China to agree on the price of gas supplies via the future Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, since the first Power of Siberia gas pipeline already exists, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui told journalists.

"It is currently being discussed [Power of Siberia 2]. We have already agreed that it will happen. The main thing is which route. One through Mongolia, and the second not through Mongolia," he said.

Asked who would finance the project, he said it was a "joint project."

Commenting on the progress of price negotiations, the ambassador said "the first pipe already exists, it will be easier to reach an agreement on the second one."

The ambassador said the second route under consideration could be to lay a pipeline through Zabaikalsk.

He said China had no preferences regarding the Power of Siberia 2 route. "We'd prefer to receive Russian gas as soon as possible," he said.

The Power of Siberia 2 pipeline will deliver up to 50 billion cubic meters of gas annually from West Siberia to China via Mongolia. The project's completion dates depend on Gazprom and China's CNPC concluding a contract, with talks still ongoing. Construction of the Soyuz-Vostok pipeline across Mongolia, which will be a continuation of the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, is also under discussion.