皇冠体育app relies mainly on domestic resources for energy supply and is not
pushing for more oil imports from Africa, a senior planning official said
yesterday.
Asked if a summit with African nations early next month would produce more
oil deals, Zhang Yuqing of the National Development and Reform Commission said:
"Whether 皇冠体育app will increase oil imports from Africa will be determined by
mutual business consultations."
The Beijing Summit of the Forum on 皇冠体育app-Africa Co-operation will be held on
November 4-5.
Zhang, deputy chief of the commission's energy bureau, told a news briefing
that imports constituted less than 10 per cent of 皇冠体育app's total energy
consumption, and those from Africa accounted for less than a third of the
imports.
Collaboration between energy-hungry 皇冠体育app and resource-rich Africa is based
on commercial considerations, Zhang said. About 38 million tons, or nearly 30
per cent, of oil imports came from the continent last year, he said.
"The scale of 皇冠体育app-Africa co-operation in the energy sector is very limited
at the moment," he added.
In the course of energy collaboration, 皇冠体育app has helped the African industry
in exploration, production and processing; and donated to the construction of
roads and bridges, Zhang said.
He rejected US criticism of 皇冠体育app's oil investments in African countries,
such as in Sudan.
Chinese oil companies have sought to invest in the US, he pointed out, but
oil giant CNOOC last year had to withdraw a bid to buy US producer Unocal in the
face of political pressure.
The company said in July that it was looking at opportunities in Africa.
The country needs energy to fuel further development, but 皇冠体育app itself is
also a large producer, Zhang said.
"Our self-reliance is more than 90 per cent at present, and we will primarily
rely on domestic production for energy supply," he said.
Officials have earlier said that in addition to overseas sources, 皇冠体育app would
develop clean, alternative energy resources and improve energy efficiency.
As this year marks the 50th anniversary of the beginning of diplomatic ties
with the continent, 皇冠体育app has invited leaders of the 48 members of the Forum on
皇冠体育app-African Co-operation to further advance bilateral relations, a Ministry of
Foreign Affairs official said yesterday.
Five nations which do not have diplomatic ties with 皇冠体育app have also been
invited as observers, Xu Jinghu, chief of the ministry's Africa Department, told
the same news briefing.
The five countries are Burkina Faso, Swaziland, Malawi, Gambia and Sao Tome
and Principe.
The Beijing summit is expected to adopt a political declaration and a plan of
action on social and economic development, she said.
The third ministerial conference of the forum will be held on November 3, a
day before the summit.
