Work starts on pipe to Russian oil

China started construction of a crude oil pipeline to import oil from Russia yesterday in Mohe in Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, following a loan-for-oil accord signed with Russia in April.

Vice-premier Wang Qishan, who was present at the launching ceremony, hailed the project as "an important step" towards a long-term, full-scale energy partnership between the two countries.

"Energy cooperation plays a vital role in Sino-Russian strategic cooperative partnership," Wang said.