15 October 2004	Friday	29 Shaban 1425

BEIJING, Oct 14: Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on Thursday for a two-day visit expected to focus on trade, with China likely to focus on the much-coveted but controversial oil pipeline.

The Russian leader, who is due to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao later on Thursday, told reporters before leaving Moscow that Russia would be driven by its own interest in deciding whether to supply oil to China or its rival Japan.

In an interview with Chinese reporters, according to a transcript released by the Kremlin, Putin said the charged geopolitical debate over access to Russia's Siberian oil riches had not been settled.

But he promised to hold "an absolutely frank" discussion with Hu over the project during his visit. "I am confident that we will be able to reach a decision that will satisfy both us and our partners," Mr Putin said.

Beijing is looking to its neighbour for long term, stable fuel supply, namely through a proposed 2,400-kilometer oil pipeline from the Siberian city of Angarsk to China's north-eastern city of Daqing. -AFP