There is great potential for deeper Sino-Russian cooperation in the energy and natural resources fields, Chinese President Hu Jintao said on Wednesday.

Hu was addressing the high-level Sino-Russian economic forum held in Beijing.

Hu urged the two sides to proceed with long-term perspectives in view, and to be mindful of the other's interests.

Such mutually beneficial cooperation should boost the economic development of the two countries while maintaining stability on the international market, he said.

He urged the two sides to shift the cooperation pattern from the current trade-centered mode to one that focuses on production and processing.

Russia has become one of China's major energy suppliers.

Visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the relevant enterprises of the two countries have agreed to study the possibility of building a branch pipeline from Russia's oil-rich Siberia to China.

With the implementation of the project, "the crude oil supply to China will definitely see an increase," he said.

China and Russia on Tuesday inked three deals on oil and natural gas cooperation following talks between Hu and Putin.

The three documents include a principled agreement between the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and the Russian oil company Rosneft to establish joint ventures for further oil cooperation.

A memorandum of understanding between CNPC and Russia's natural gas company Gazprom for natural gas supply to China, and a summary of negotiations between CNPC and Transneft, a pipeline transport company of Russia were also signed.
 
Putin left Beijing on Wednesday at noon for Henan Province in central China.

Putin will visit the Shaolin Temple, which is famous for Chinese martial arts, or Kungfu, and is listed as a world heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Putin is on a two-day state visit during which he officiated at the opening of the Year of Russia in China at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday.

(Xinhua News Agency March 22, 2006)