Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov said on Wednesday his country would stand by an agreement to build a pipeline to China when meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (right) holds talks with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov in Beijing September 24, 2003. [newsphoto.com.cn]

Plans for the US$2.5 billion pipeline, which would stretch some 2,400 km (1,500 miles) from Russia's Angarsk, near Lake Baikal in Siberia, to China's Daqing, were stalled due to environmental worries and a competing plan to route a pipeline to Japan. 

During his talks with the Chinese premier, Kasyanov praised his country's growing economic relationship with China.

"It is very understandable that Russian-China bilateral trade grows at such a fast speed. Russia-China trade grows faster than that with any of Russia's other trade partners," Kasyanov said.

The prime ministers of Russia, China and four Central Asian nations - who form the Shanghai Cooperation Organization - met in Beijing on Monday to discuss anti-terrorism efforts and increased trade ties in the region.

Kasyanov praised that meeting as productive. "The atmosphere is very good for the development of our strategic partnership cooperation."

Wen also lauded the relationship. "I again wish to push forward an exchange of views on bilateral ties, especially in economics and trade," he told Kasyanov.

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