line to China would supply up to 30 million tons a year for a provisional 25-year period, at an estimated building cost of 2.5 billion dollars. No decision on the route of the pipeline was expected during Putin's visit. Putin will also travel to the northwestern northern city of Xian on Friday, during a visit timed to mark the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the former Soviet Union in 1949. Bilateral trade value reached 15.76 billion dollars in 2003, up 20 per cent from 2002, according to Chinese customs statistics. In the first eight months of this year, bilateral trade value jumped 35 per cent to 12.87 billion dollars. Russia's planned accession to the World Trade Organization, which China supports, is expected to give another boost to bilateral trade.
