China, Russia to sign major gas deal: Gazprom chief

China and Russia on Tuesday will sign a deal that will see 70 billion cubic metres of natural gas sent to China annually, the head of Russian gas giant Gazprom, Alexei Miller, said.

China and Russia on Tuesday will sign a deal that will see 70 billion cubic metres of natural gas sent to China annually, the head of Russian gas giant Gazprom, Alexei Miller, said.

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"A framework agreement has been initialled. This document will be signed today," Miller told reporters in Beijing during a visit to the Chinese capital by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

"It will be a long-term contract, about 70 billion cubic metres" of gas annually, Miller told reporters in Beijing.

He declined to provide financial details on the deal but said the gas could begin to flow as early as next year.