Russia has started the construction of a new gas pipeline that will link the nation with China.

The 2,485 mile long ‘Power of Siberia’ pipeline will pump 38 billion cubic meters of natural gas to China for 30 years.

Earlier this year Chinese firm CNPC agreed to buy $400 billion (£240bn) of gas from Russia’s Gazprom.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli both launched the construction and signed the freshly-welded pipeline.

Mr Putin said: “This project will make it possible for Russia to export gas and to develop our country’s own gas network in the eastern regions, the Far East and eastern Siberia.

“This will help us to boost these regions’ development and indeed give a boost around the whole country to sectors such as machine-building, the metals industry, the pipe manufacturing sector and the chemicals industry.”