Russia to build gas pipeline to China via Mongolia

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that energy giant Rosneft has reached an agreement with the Mongolian authorities to build a gas pipeline through the country to China.

"We are now talking about the possible implementation of a major infrastructure project, we mean the delivery of Russian gas to China via Mongolia," Putin said on 7 September during talks with Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, according to the Interfax news agency. 

"Just now, an hour ago, the director of Rosneft was briefing me that as a result of his working visit to Mongolia, agreements were reached to expand collaboration in this area. As far as I'm aware, all issues linked to the delivery of oil and oil products were agreed upon," the president added.

Putin also said that he would meet the Mongolian president in Uzbekistan "very soon", at a trilateral summit involving the Chinese leader.