国际英语新闻：EU, Russia seek to enhance energy partnership

BRUSSELS, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Security of supplies and demand issues will remain at the center of the European Union (EU)-Russia energy relations, EU Energy Commissioner Oettinger said Monday in Brussels.

EU and Russia top energy officials held a high-level conference Monday in Brussels to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the EU- Russia Energy Dialogue and discuss the way to strengthen cooperation between the two regions in the sector.

"The dialogue is a necessity based on the pragmatic and credible security of supply and security of demand," Oettinger said.

The EU and Russia are the most important energy partners, with Russia being the biggest oil, gas, uranium and coal exporter to Europe, and the EU being the largest foreign investor in Russia.

"The Russian and the EU economies are inter-integrated," Russian Energy Minister Sergey Shmatko said.

"We are convinced that we can provide a good and economically viable supply and I think that if we work together as partners, there will be a win-win situation," the Russian minister said in response to the EU's new strategy on energy diversification.

Oettinger said he believed that the two sides should develop a common understanding of the Roadmap 2050 for low-carbon economy, reach long-term agreement in energy, and improve the investment climate as well as market access.

The EU-Russia partnership for modernization will be a framework to promote concrete energy projects between the two blocs, according to Oettinger.

"For the years to come the transportation of hydrocarbon resources from Russia to the EU against investment and technology from the EU to Russia will remain the basis of our relations," he said.