China-Russia set for 'unprecedented' gas deal

China and Russia are in the final stages of negotiations to ink an 'unprecedented' gas deal, ahead of a crucial visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao to Moscow next week.

China and Russia, which set off a new phase of energy cooperation with the launch of 1000-km oil pipeline in January, may strike a similar deal to supply Russian natural gas to energy-hungry China before the June 15-18 visit of Hu.

"We believe that companies from both countries will reach agreements based on the principles of friendly consultation and mutual benefit," Cheng Guoping, the Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister told a media briefing here today ahead of Hu