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China, Kazakhstan unveil landmark gas pipeline
The leaders of Kazakhstan and China jointly unveiled Saturday the Kazakh section of a natural gas pipeline that will tap into Central Asia's vast energy riches and loosen Russia's influence over the region.
The pipeline, due to come online in days, is part of China's efforts to secure energy supplies for its booming economy.
The 1,300-kilometer Kazakhstan-China pipeline is the Central Asian nation's first export route that completely bypasses Russia.
The commissioning ceremony in the southern Kazakh township of Otar was watched by televised link from the capital, Astana, by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao.
"This is a grand construction project that will in time resurrect the ancient Silk Route," Nazarbayev said during the ceremony.