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Iran, China ink oil, gas agreement |
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Wednesday, 21 June 2006National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) Managing Director Gholam-Hossein Nozari said the groundwork has been laid for wider political and economic cooperation between Iran and China.
At a meeting with officials of China's state-owned oil giant Sinopec to finalize a deal for exploration and development of Garmsar oil and gas field, he expressed hope the two sides can enter into bigger agreements in line with their national interests.
"We have begun bigger operations in our oil sector. Our oil production in the last three months has increased by up to 150,000 barrels," he said.
Nozari said that the NIOC is currently negotiating another three LNG exploration projects apart from four agreements for Phases 19, 20, 21 and 22 of the South Pars oil field.
He described President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's three-day visit to China as a "turning point" in the expansion of Iran-China relations in the energy sector.
"Our country (Iran) ranks second in global oil and gas reserves," he said, adding that it plays a significant role in the supply of energy to coutries worldwide," Nozari remarked.
Nozari, who is also a deputy of the Iranian oil minister, further expressed satisfaction over the conclusion of the 10th exploration agreement with Sinopec, and called for more bilateral cooperation in the energy sector.
Chinese Ambassador to Iran Liu Zhentang stressed in the meeting the importance his country attaches to enhanced energy cooperation with Iran.
Ambassador Liu said the Iranian economy, which he described as "very good," can be used as a tool against tyrants.
"Iran-China relations have been limited to the energy sector. We should try to have more cooperation in other sectors," he said, adding that Chinese companies have the will and capacity to establish cooperation with Iranian firms in various sectors.
The Chinese envoy expressed confidence Iran-China cooperation was in line with their mutual interests and needs.
IRNA Wednesday June 21, 2006
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Wednesday, 21 June 2006
Iran
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