The Russian government has agreed to build two large-scale gas pipelines to China.
The move follows a meeting between the Chinese President, Hu Jintao and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing.
Mr Putin, who has made energy security the theme of Russia's current presidency of the G8 group of industrialised nations, said that diversifying energy export routes was a top priority.
The Russian President was accompanied to Beijing by the chief executive of gas giant Gazprom, Alexei Miller.
It is understood the two sides signed three deals on oil and natural gas co-operation.
China's interest in Russia's vast oil and gas reserves has heightened as its reliance on energy imports continues to grow.
