Chinese and Russian Relations have been somewhat cool for many decades, even since the end of the Sino-Soviet Split.  But nothing breaks the ice like business deals where both parties have what the other needs.  China needs oil and gas, and Russia is becomming one of the world's largest suppliers.  Russia mostly wants cash, which China has plenty of at present, but also a market for its world-class military hardware.  Both countries are interested in their mutual rapid rise in power, wealth, and influence as a counter to the dominance of the United States.

From The Moscow Times:

Russia plans to export 68 billion cubic meters of gas per year to China by 2020 through two pipelines, Industry and Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko said in Beijing on Tuesday.

China presently consumes 56 GM3 a year, so just those two pipelines would increase gas usage by over 120%

CNPC, China's biggest oil company, and Gazprom will complete talks to build the pipelines by 2008, Khristenko said in Beijing. The western pipeline will start pumping 30 bcm per year starting in 2011, and the eastern link will add 38 bcm per year by 2016, he said.

Russia will also complete an oil pipeline project to export 15 million tons per year to China in the first phase, and double the volume in a second phase, Khristenko said.

China consumes 360 million tons a year, so an extra 30 would be an increase of only 8%