The China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) said on Friday that it has signed a framework agreement with Russian energy giant Gazprom to import natural gas.
The agreement is a breakthrough after years of negotiation on bilateral gas cooperation, and paves the way for a final deal that the two companies have agreed to sign at the end of this year, said the CNPC in a statement.
Gazprom will start delivering gas to China in 2018, said the CNPC.
