OAO MegaFon, Russia\'s second-largest wireless operator, agreed to buy at least $600 million of equipment from Huawei Technologies Co at a time when ties between Russian and Chinese companies are strengthening.

MegaFon chose China\'s largest maker of network products for a seven-year contract to speed mobile networks in several Russian territories, Chief Strategy Officer Alexander Bashmakov said in a phone interview.

The deal, including software and maintenance, is worth "dozens of billion rubles," he said.

"Huawei is one of the technological leaders in 4G equipment," Bashmakov said. "They are leading in the number of signed contracts with operators. The Russian market is very competitive in equipment prices, unlike the US, where supplies of Chinese equipment are limited."