Ambassador said in interview to Novosti Uzbekistan newspaper that the first line of the China-Uzbekistan gas pipeline was commissioned in the end of 2010.

He said: “By the end of this year the construction of the second line of this pipeline will be completed. Currently, all interested bodies and businesses of two countries are holding active consultations.”

The first line of Central Asia-China gas pipeline was opened in mid-December 2009. Total extension of Turkmenistan-China pipeline, construction of which was started in July 2009, makes up 7,000 km. The extension of gas pipeline in Turkmenistan makes up 188 km, Uzbekistan – 525 km, Kazakhstan – 1,293 km and China – over 4,860 km.

The pipeline was laid in three regions - Bukhara, Kashkadarya and Navoi regions and connected with Kazakhstan’s gas transportation system. The cost of the Uzbek part of the pipeline is US$3 billion. The second line of the pipeline will be completed by the end of 2010.

Asia Trans Gas, an Uzbek-Chinese joint venture, is working on construction of the second line of the Uzbek part of Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline in 2010.

Asia Trans Gas JV was founded on an equal footing with Uzbekneftegaz national holding company and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), to deign, construct and exploitation the Uzbek part of Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline.

In line with the Uzbek-Chinese intergovernmental agreement, Uzbekistan will supply China 10 billion cubic meters of gas a year.