China signs deal to import more Russian oil

China today said it had secured a Russian promise for more oil shipments by train for the next two years, as it scrambled to secure the energy it needs to feed its booming economy.

China will receive at least 10 million tons (70 million barrels) of crude oil from Russia by train in 2005, and at least 15 million tons (105 million barrels) by train in 2006, in a deal signed between the two countries’ governments yesterday in Beijing, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.