6. World's longest natural gas pipeline

A new “Silk Road” linking China and Central Asia was opened on December 14: a 1,833-km natural gas pipeline, that starts in Turkmenistan, and winds its way through Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan before reaching China's Xinjiang region. It is the world’s longest natural gas pipeline ever constructed.

Chinese President Hu Jintao and his counterparts from Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan jointly opened the pipeline at a ceremony in Turkmenistan. Hu said the China-Central Asia natural gas pipeline is a model of solidarity and mutually beneficial cooperation among the four countries.

Once it reaches full capacity between 2012 and 2013, it will be able to deliver 40 billion cubic meters of gas each year. That is more than half of China's current annual gas consumption.

6、世界最长的天然气管道

连接中国和中亚的一条新“丝绸之路”于去年12月14日正式开通。这条“丝绸之路”其实是一条长达1833公里的天然气管道，它始于土库曼斯坦，途经乌兹别克斯坦和哈萨克斯坦，一直延伸到中国的新疆维吾尔自治区，是迄今为止世界上建造的最长的天然气管道。

胡锦涛主席和中亚三国首脑在土库曼斯坦共同开启了这条通道。胡主席说，这条连接中国和中亚的天然气管道是四国团结互利关系的一个典范。

这条管道预计在2012年至2013年间达到最大通气能力，年输气量将达400亿立方米，超过中国目前年天然气消耗量的一半。