Putin says Russia's turn to Asia was planned long ago

MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday Russia's turn toward Asia was a long-planned move and that a new gas route to China would help both sides. At his annual end-of-year news conference, Putin said: "The gas contract with China was not made at a loss. Both sides will benefit." (Reporting by Katya Golubkova, writing by Elizabeth Piper, editing by Timothy Heritage)