Gazprom's slow boat to China as gas-supply agreement moves forward

A gas-supply agreement between Russia and China is advancing. But Gazprom may already have missed its chance to meet soaring Chinese gas demand

Russia has stepped up efforts to seal a gas-export agreement with China as it tilts its energy trade towards fast-growing markets in the east. But China will drive a hard bargain over pricing for supplies. Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev paid a three day visit to China in September for talks aimed at boosting co-operation between the two countries in oil, gas, coal and nuclear power. Following talks with Jiang Jiemin, president of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), Alexei Miller, Gazprom's president, said Russia and China would draft a "road map" on gas supplies no later than July 2011. "We are in talks. The talks will continue. We are now agreeing separate parameters," said Igo