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Chinese, Turkmen Presidents Sign Energy Deal

April 3, 2006 -- The presidents of China and Turkmenistan today signed an energy deal that foresees the construction of a gas pipeline taking Turkmen gas directly to China.

China's Hu Jintao and Turkmenistan's Saparmurat Niyazov signed the deal in Beijing, where Niyazov is on a six-day official visit. Details of the agreement were not immediately available, but Niyazov has said Turkmenistan is prepared to deliver 30-40 billion cubic meters of gas to China per year.

Turkmenistan has huge oil and natural gas reserves, and China is increasingly looking abroad to fulfill its massive energy needs. China recently signed a similar energy cooperation deal with Kazakhstan. Russia has also announced plans to build gas and oil pipelines to China.

Hu and Niyazov are expected to sign a number of other agreements, including one covering cooperation in fighting separatism, extremism and terrorism.

Niyazov arrived in Beijing on April 2. He began the official portion of his visit by presenting the second volume of his book "Rukhnama" (Spirituality) to the People's University of China.

(ITAR-TASS, AP)

Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org