However, it is thought that Russia's president Vladimir Putin would prefer to see...
China is planning to take part in a $9 billion bid to buy Yuganskneftegaz, the key unit of Russia's beleaguered oil magnate Yukos.
The state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation hinted the Kremlin that it wanted to take part in the auction on December 19.
Russian newspaper Vedomosti quoted a highly government official confirming that the Chinese were potential bidders.
Yugansk is being sold off on the orders of the tax authorities, who have slapped a huge bill on Yukos. The company was established by the jailed oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
However, it is thought that Russia?s president Vladimir Putin would prefer to see the sate-run gas monopoly Gazprom as Yuganskneftegaz owner.
