Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan discussing gas union for internal supplies, markets of third countries, including China - Novak

MOSCOW. Nov 29 (Interfax) - Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are discussing a gas union for internal supplies and to the markets of third countries, including China, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak told reporters.

"These areas of cooperation are under consideration, inasmuch as Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have actually had a single gas-transmission system since Soviet times. We have great opportunities for expanding mutual cooperation, including in gas supplies and their processing - which, in principle, is already underway - and in deliveries to other export destinations, particularly, to the People's Republic of China. However, all this should be considered as additional areas of cooperation," Novak said during an interview with reporters.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on Monday that he supports a proposal by Russian President Vladimir Putin to set up a trilateral Russia-Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan union, which will also tackle issues in the gas sector.

"During the talks in the Kremlin, the presidents of Kazakhstan and Russia discussed the creation of a three-party gas union of Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan with the aim of coordinating efforts during the transportation of Russian gas across the territory of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan," the Kazakh leader's press secretary Ruslan Zheldibai said on Tuesday.

More detailed talks will have to be held involving the three countries' experts to find a rational solution to this issue heeding the interests of all parties concerned, he said.