Kazakhstan offers to build Russia-China gas pipeline through its territory

Kazakhstan offers to the Russian government to build the Russia-China gas pipeline through its territory, a senior official said in Almaty on Wednesday.

Kazakh Deputy Energy Minister Uzakbay Karabalin told a press conference that the Russian side has already shown some interest in such a proposal. He said the two countries will establish a working group for further discussion on this issue.

"Today it is just an idea, however it has already interested the Russian side and it is a very good signal. From now on it is necessary to do everything possible for Russian and Chinese side to support the initiative of Kazakhstan," said Karabalin.

On May 21, China and Russia signed a long-awaited gas deal in Shanghai during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to China, ending a decade of natural gas supply talks between the two neighbors.

The 30-year deal will see the east route pipeline starting providing China with 38 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually from 2018.