FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia September 4, 2019. Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via REUTERS

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin told the head of state-controlled Gazprom GAZP.MM to consider making Russian gas exports to China via Mongolia, the Kremlin said on Monday.

Gazprom is due to start exporting gas to China in December via the eastern Power of Siberia pipeline.

“Please, look into the resources of Yamal (Peninsula) as well, in order to gather the necessary resources for the supplies via the western route to China via Mongolia,” Putin told Gazprom head Alexei Miller at a meeting, adding that the partners in China also “lean toward” this route.