Beijung — China’s involvement in Russia’s Arctic LNG-2 liquefied natural gas project should not be the target of any third party intervention or restrictions, its foreign ministry said on Tuesday.
The United States imposed sanctions on Artic LNG-2 in November as part of a package of sweeping new measures against Moscow over the war in Ukraine. Russian controlling shareholder Novatek has declared force majeure due to the U.S. sanctions, according to sources.
Economic cooperation between China and Russia was in the mutual interest of both countries and “should not be interfered with or restricted by any third party,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press conference on Tuesday.
The Arctic LNG-2 project was due to start production in early 2024. Novatek holds a 60% stake in the project, whilst CNOOC and CNPC each have a 10% stake as do France’s TotalEnergies and a consortium of Japan’s Mitsui & Co and JOGMEC.
Reporting by Liz Lee and Andrew Hayley in Beijing; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Edwina Gibbs – Reuters
