Russian President Vladimir Putin turned his attention to trade and martial arts yesterday before concluding his two-day visit to China and returning to Moscow.

 

In the morning Putin and President Hu Jintao attended the opening ceremony of a high-level Sino-Russian economic forum which was viewed as an opportunity for the two countries to discuss detailed trade issues.

 

In a speech at the forum Putin highlighted the cooperation between Russia and China on energy issues explaining that Russia had become China's fifth-largest energy supplier.

 

Putin said Russia would step up energy cooperation with China and increase oil and gas supplies to its neighbor.

 

On Tuesday the two countries signed three deals on oil and natural gas cooperation and released a summary of negotiations between the China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC) and the Russian pipeline company Transneft. .

 

"Transneft and the CNPC are performing a feasibility study on laying a branch oil pipeline to China," said Putin yesterday. "If the project can be implemented, which I have no doubt about, it'll help improve Russia's oil supply to China." He also highlighted potential cooperation on a gas pipeline network.

 

"We are studying different routes for a gas pipeline -- one from the east and the other from the west of Siberia," Putin explained to about 800 participants at the forum.?

 

He expressed the hope that the two countries could further cement economic ties in relation to their fast-growing trade and prompt further cooperation in the high-tech, environmental protection, aviation, machinery, transportation, finance, education and services sectors.

 

Trade volume between China and Russia has been increasing rapidly in recent years. It reached US$29.1 billion in 2005 -- up 37.1 percent year on year.

 

Hu said Sino-Russian cooperation in energy and natural resources had great potential. He indicated that both countries should proceed with the long-term perspective in mind and be aware of each other's interests in energy cooperation.

 

Such mutually beneficial endeavors should boost economic development in both countries while maintaining stability on the international market, Hu observed.

 

Before his departure Putin, who holds a black belt in judo, visited the Shaolin Temple for a taste of Buddhism and martial arts. Shaolin, established some 1,500 years ago in central China's Henan Province, is renowned for combining martial arts and Zen Buddhism which features long sessions of meditation. .

 

Putin arrived in the provincial capital Zhengzhou in the afternoon. Xu Guangchun, Party Secretary of Henan, and Province Governor, Li Chengyu, met with him at the airport. Xu briefed Putin on local social and economic development and explained the province's importance as the birthplace of Chinese martial arts.

 

Putin said, "I'm glad to see Henan and some regions of Russia have developed very good and friendly cooperation. I hope the province can continue to be fully involved in this and make it a significant foundation for the Russia-China ties."

 

 

 

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 23, 2006)