The agreement was signed within the state visit of the Uzbek President Islam Karimov to China on 19-20 April 2011. The project will increase capacity of the pipeline up to 25 billion cubic meters of gas a year. The sides did not disclose project details.

As earlier reported, it is planned that the project will be realized in 2011-2013. The forecast cost of the project made up US$2.2 billion. China State Development Bank and China National Petroleum Company (CNPC) will participate in the project implementation.

Central Asia-China gas pipeline has been commissioned on 15 December 2009. Total extension of gas pipeline, construction of which was started in July 2008, makes up 7000 km. The extension of pipeline in Turkmenistan makes up 188 km, Uzbekistan – 525 km, Kazakhstan – 1,293 km and China – 4,860 km.

The pipeline was laid in three regions - Bukhara, Kashkadarya and Navoi regions and connected with Kazakhstan’s gas transportation system.

Asia Trans Gas, an Uzbek-Chinese joint venture, was founded to deign, construct and exploitation the Uzbek part of Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline. The venture was created on an equal footing with Uzbekneftegaz national holding company and CNPC.

Former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Uzbekistan Yu Hongjun stated both lines of Central Asia-China gas pipeline have been commissioned at the end of 2010.