Prime Minister Vladimir Putin welcomed a delegation led by Chinese President Hu Jintao at Gazprom main office in Moscow.
During the visit, the delegation studied the company's central switchboard and heard about the company's latest achievements.
"Last year, we exported roughly 140 billion cubic metres and this year our exports have increased by 24 billion cubic meters," Gazprom Chairman Alexei Miller told the delegation. "This year, we expect a 22% increase. We finished constructing the Sakhalin-Khabarovsk-Vladivostok pipeline in September. Next month, we will start building the Chayanda-Khabarovsk-Vladivostok Pipeline."
The visitors were clearly impressed.
"We are trying to put our best foot forward and hope for a future contract," a Gazprom official told Komsomolskaya Pravda. "Of course, we did not let them push any buttons. What if, God forbids, they accidentally stop gas supplies to Ukraine? That is serious business," he added, smiling.
"We wanted to receive you in this businesslike atmosphere as the dialogue on energy consumption is an essential part of our cooperation," Putin said at the meeting. "We wanted to show you one of our energy giants. I hope the presentation has been impressive. If we manage to reach an agreement, it will lend an additional boost to the development of our economic ties. The latest results are quite positive and they show that we could do well together in the years to come. China outstripped Germany to become our largest trade partner last year."
"Mr. Putin, you are a long-time friend of the Chinese people," Hu Jintao replied. "We laud your efforts to uphold Russia's sovereignty."