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Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji said in Beijing recently that China is opening its huge cross country gas pipeline project to international bidders.

Zhu said this when he met with representatives from the international giants Royal Dutch & Shell Group, Russia's gas monopoly Gazprom and Exxon Mobil Corp. after they had signed an agreement with China to participate in the "West-East Gas Pipeline Project".

Construction of the pipeline running 2,500 miles eastward from the gas field in remote Xinjiang to Shanghai will be the largest project open to foreign cooperation since the reform and opening up began more than two decades ago, Zhu said.

The important decision was made by the Chinese government to bridge the economic gap between the west and the east of China, and to help dramatically reduce air pollutants, the premier said.

His said he hopes that the Chinese side and their foreign partners will all be committed to the project and build a pipeline up to the best international standards.

Walter van de Vijver from the Royal Dutch & Shell Group and others said they are confident of the success of the project and will work closely with PetroChina Co. on the basis of equality and mutual benefits.