SOCHI, December 2 (WNM/Reuters/Vladimir Soldatkin) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday formally launched the start of natural gas supplies to China via the Power of Siberia pipeline, a move he said would help trade between the two countries reach $200 billion by 2024.

The pipeline was launched at a televised ceremony watched by Putin and China's President Xi Jinping via video link.

The Power of Siberia gas trunkline will transport gas from the Irkutsk and Yakutia gas production centers to consumers in Russia’s Far East and China (eastern route).

In May 2014, Gazprom and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) signed the Sales and Purchase Agreement for gas to be supplied via the eastern route (Power of Siberia gas pipeline). The 30-year Agreement provides for Russian gas deliveries to China in the amount of 38 billion cubic meters per year.

The pipeline route passes through swampy, mountainous, seismically active, permafrost and rocky areas with extreme environmental conditions. The absolute lowest air temperatures along the Power of Siberia route range from minus 62 degrees Celsius in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) to minus 41 degrees Celsius in the Amur Region.