Russia-China energy cooperation has broad prospects

As an important part of Russia-China cooperation, energy cooperation has always been of strategic significance and enjoyed broad prospects, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said.

Novak, in a recent joint interview with Chinese and Russian media, said pragmatic energy cooperation between the two countries has already yielded fruits in various fields, such as oil and gas, electricity, coal and nuclear power.

"The progress is attributed to effective dialogue mechanisms at all levels between Russia and China, like the Russia-China energy negotiators' meeting," Novak said.

The China-Russia energy negotiation mechanism was launched in 2008. The two sides have held eight rounds of talks over energy issues.

The two sides have raised a number of joint projects and actively implemented their energy plans, said Novak.

He recalled major joint projects between the two countries, including the Russia-China crude oil pipeline between the eastern Russian town of Skovorodino and the northeast Chinese city of Daqing.

He said the two sides are negotiating on the possible expansion of the annual throughput of 15 million metric tons of oil.

Meanwhile, the two countries successfully launched a joint oil refinery in Tianjin, a major port city in North China, Novak said, adding that the two sides have also joined hands in the development of several gas and oil fields.

In addition, Novak said, Russia and China have also steadily developed their cooperation in coal, electric power, gas and nuclear power. But the minister believed there are still room for further development.

According to the minister, Russia-China energy cooperation could be expanded to exchanges of technologies and experience and other ways, in order to facilitate deeper involvement in each other's energy projects.

To reach the goal, the two countries should set up joint venues to participate in each country's energy projects, thus to elevate bilateral cooperation from raw material imports and exports to joint development of high value-added energy products, Novak said.

He also called on the two countries to jointly work out ways to increase energy efficiency.

On the upcoming summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in the Russian Far Eastern city of Vladivostok in September, Novak noted that energy security is one of the top issues at the summit.

On June 24-25, an APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting was held in the Russian city of St. Petersburg to discuss energy security and efficiency, and the development of clean and renewable energy, Novak recalled.

At the end of the meeting, the energy ministers issued a joint declaration, proposing to increase the use of natural gas, improve energy efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and improve nuclear safety in the region, he added.

Novak also showed limited welcome to foreign investments in the Russian energy industry, explaining that domestic energy enterprises are of more strategic significance to Russia.

Under the precondition of defending national interests, Russia welcomes foreign investments and foreign companies in the exploration of domestic oil and gas resources, he said.

Currently, foreign investments and private investments have already been introduced into the Russian energy industry. Companies with foreign investments have involved in 25 percent of the country's total production, said Novak.

"Russia expects foreign investors would introduce to the Russian energy enterprises new technologies and advanced management, in a bid to improve Russian companies' vitality and efficiency," he said.