China’s National Energy Administration (NEA) said Thursday that its deputy administrator met with a senior Saudi Aramco executive in Beijing to discuss global energy security and bilateral oil and gas cooperation, Anadolu reports.
NEA Deputy Administrator Song Hongkun met with Mohammed Al Qahtani, Saudi Aramco’s downstream president on Tuesday, according to a statement by the administration.
The two sides exchanged views on international energy security and oil and gas cooperation between China and Saudi Arabia, the statement said.
Song said Saudi Aramco is one of the world’s most important crude oil producers and suppliers, adding that Chinese companies and Aramco have maintained long-term, stable cooperation in areas including crude oil trade and refining projects.
Al Qahtani said Aramco attaches great importance to the Chinese market and is willing to continue participating in China’s refining and petroleum reserve cooperation, according to the NEA statement.
He added that the company seeks to support stable crude oil supplies to China, the administration said.
The meeting comes as Saudi Aramco has been expanding its downstream presence in China, the world’s largest crude oil importer, through long-term supply deals and refining and petrochemical investments.
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In 2023, Aramco completed the purchase of a 10% stake in Rongsheng Petrochemical for 24.6 billion yuan ($3.4 billion), a deal that included the supply of 480,000 barrels per day of Arabian crude to Rongsheng affiliate Zhejiang Petroleum and Chemical Company.
Aramco also said in 2023 that its partnership with Rongsheng and its Huajin Aramco Petrochemical Company joint venture would together involve the supply of 690,000 barrels per day of crude to high-conversion chemical assets in China.
The Saudi company has also joined Chinese partners in a refining and petrochemical project in China’s Fujian province. Aramco, Sinopec and Fujian Petrochemical broke ground on the project in November 2024, with the complex expected to include a 320,000-barrel-per-day refining unit and to become fully operational by the end of 2030.
Aramco Asia President Saleh Al Zaid said in December 2025 that the company was investing in projects in China with a total value of more than 240 billion yuan ($35.4 billion), with Aramco’s share exceeding 90 billion yuan ($13.3 billion), according to Aramco China.
China and Saudi Arabia have deepened energy and industrial cooperation in recent years, with crude oil supply, refining, petrochemicals and low-carbon technologies among the main areas of partnership.
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