Actualités Chinoises

[Dragunov]

China goes for gas in Iran

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Beijing glimpses a Middle East energy consolidation, by replacing France's Total in South Pars gas expansion venture

By the beginning of August, Total will know whether or not it has a future in Iran. The Iranian authorities have given it two months to seek an exemption from US sanctions on their country. Total is involved in the Phase 11 development of the huge offshore South Pars gasfield, which is shared with Qatar—with the Qataris calling it the North Field. As recently as April, the French firm issued tenders for sub-contracts for South Pars, still hoping for a miracle.

The chances of the Trump administration allowing Total to ignore sanctions are remote. Furthermore, the likelihood is that France's loss will be China's gain. For Iran's oil minister Bijan Zanganeh said recently that "if the US administration does not agree with Total staying in Iran, China will replace this company".

China National Petroleum Corporation, expecting that Trump would target Iran over the nuclear issue, has been making preparations for several months to step into Total's shoes. Chinese state firms are also bidding for four onshore blocks in Iran.

If CNPC does indeed enter South Pars, then it will be a further and important step along the path of China deepening its energy ties with the Middle East. China badly needs new and secure hydrocarbon sources beyond its borders, and the Middle East is one of its key target regions.

When it comes to oil, the figures demonstrate clearly why this is the case. China's domestic crude oil production is in decline, while demand is increasing. In 2017, it produced 3.8m barrels a day, a fall of 150,000 b/d on 2016—and the third annual decline in succession. The overall picture is even worse—according to the US Energy Information Administration, imports rose from 2m b/d in 2004 to 8.4m b/d in 2017. China has now overtaken the US as the world's biggest crude importer.

At present, Russia is China's largest single supplier of crude oil, with exports soaring from 665,000 b/d in 2014 to 1.2 million b/d last year. Russia and China are also doubling the capacity of the East Siberia-Pacific Ocean oil pipeline to 600,000 b/d, raising the prospect of increasing volumes of Russian crude entering the Chinese market.

Despite growing competition for market share, three countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council—Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates—remain key suppliers; along with Iran and Iraq.

Kuwait's exports to China rose from 208,000 b/d in 2012 to 363,000 b/d in 2017, while the export rates from Saudi Arabia and the UAE fluctuated slightly over the same period. Outside the GCC, Iran's sales to Chinese buyers rose from 438,000 b/d in 2012 to 621,000 b/d last year, while Iraq's more than doubled from 313,000 b/d to 738,000 b/d.

Total exports to China from these five Middle East oil states rose from 2.2 million b/d to nearly 3 million b/d in the 2012-17 period—accounting for about one-third of Chinese crude oil imports.

Among the small Gulf producers, Oman's crude oil exports to China rose from 598,000 b/d in 2014 to 624,000 b/d in 2017. China is Oman's biggest market for crude oil, accounting for close to 80% of total exports. Qatar tripled its crude exports to China between 2014 and 2017, recording 21,000 b/d in the latter. Chinese companies are also active in Iraq, the Kurdish region of northern Iraq and the UAE, as well as Egypt, South Sudan and Algeria.

Whenever IOCs bow out of potentially rich hydrocarbon regions in the Middle East, or are forced to leave, expect China to be ready and willing to take over. Its hunger for oil and gas doesn't look like diminishing soon.

http://www.petroleum-economist.com/arti ... as-in-iran

[Henri K.]

[Henri K.]

[Dragunov]

Vladimir Putin awarded the Chinese Order of Friendship

President of China Xi Jinping awarded the Order of Friendship of the People’s Republic of China to Vladimir Putin. The President of Russia is the first foreign leader to be awarded this high national order of China.

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of Friendship of the People’s Republic of China is awarded to foreign citizens for special contribution to the development and modernisation of China, for promoting China’s ties and cooperation with other countries, and for maintaining world peace.

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President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping (retranslated): President Putin, dear friends,

Today we are holding a ceremony to award the Order of Friendship of the People's Republic of China to an old and great friend of the Chinese people, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.

The Order of Friendship is China's highest state decoration, conferred on foreign friends for supporting China’s development and modernisation, as well as for outstanding contribution to promoting exchanges and cooperation between China and other countries, and to the defence of peace around the world.

The awarding of this decoration to President Putin is the first awarding since China introduced a system of decorations for state merit.

President Putin, the leader of a major power with global influence, is the founder of current Chinese-Russian relations and always promotes their development at a high level. Since 2000, President Putin has made 19 trips to China, including on official visits and to attend international events. He has visited China more often than any other global leader, and he is best known and respected in China. President Putin is also my best and closest friend.

In 2001, President Putin signed the Treaty of Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation between China and Russia, which created a solid legal framework for the centuries-old friendship between our countries. Thanks to his constant attention and personal involvement, Chinese-Russian relations have withstood the trials of a changing international situation; political and strategic trust between the two nations is growing stronger; significant progress is being made in our multifaceted cooperation; and the friendship between our peoples is deepening.

The increasingly ambitious Chinese-Russian projects bring benefits to the peoples of both countries, and are a worthy example of harmonious coexistence of world powers and neighbouring states. They serve as a significant contribution to the formation of a new type of international relations and a community for the common future of humankind.

Standing on the threshold of a new start, President Putin and I are ready to further advance Chinese-Russian relations and open up even more brilliant prospects in the spirit of good-neighbourliness and friendship, strategic interaction and mutual benefit.

The prestigious Order of Friendship is not only a testament to China’s high esteem of President Putin, but also the deep friendship between the great peoples of China and Russia.

We would like to take this opportunity and sincerely wish President Putin continued success in his position of high importance; we wish prosperity and power to the great Chinese and Russian nations, and happiness and eternal friendship to the peoples of our countries.

Thank you.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President, my dear friend! Ladies and gentlemen, friends,

It is a great honour for me to be awarded this prestigious state award of China – the Order of Friendship.

I know that the order was established quite recently and is awarded for the first time today. I sincerely thank my Chinese friends for such a special sign of attention. I take this as recognition and appreciation of the Russian efforts to develop a comprehensive strategic partnership with China.

My colleagues and I are grateful to you, Mr President, for today’s ceremony. We can see what is being done, as well as how it happens.

This is also a sign of special attention and respect, based, of course, on our mutual national interests, the interests of our peoples and, of course, the friendly personal relations between us.

Allow me to emphasise that our country sincerely values ​​the good-neighbourly relations and friendship with China. We are proud of our common achievements in politics, the economy, science, and culture. We appreciate the high level of cooperation achieved in the international arena. And we are fully confident of the certain success of all our undertakings.

I would like to thank you again for such a high award. I look forward to continuing our joint work to deepen Russian-Chinese strategic cooperation for the sake of welfare and prosperity of the peoples of Russia and China.

Thank you.

http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/57701

[Henri K.]

[Henri K.]

[numide]

Chine : chantier du chemin de fer à grande vitesse Datong-Zhangjiakou .




Le chantier du chemin de fer à grande vitesse Datong-Zhangjiakou, dans le district de Huai'an, province chinoise du Hebei (nord), le 8 juin 2018. Le chemin de fer, reliant la ville de Datong, dans la province du Shanxi (nord), à Zhangjiakou (Hebei), avec une vitesse conçue à 250 km/h, devrait être mis en service fin 2019.

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[numide]

Chine : beaux paysages dans le nord-ouest de la Chine .




Photos prises le 10 juin 2018 montrant le paysage du village de Yijiawan, dans le bourg de Fengle, du district de Minle, à Zhangye, dans la province du Gansu (nord-ouest de la Chine).

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[Henri K.]

[Henri K.]

[Henri K.]

[numide]

Chine : un nouveau modèle de train à sustentation magnétique sort de la chaîne de production .




Une nouvelle génération de trains à sustentation magnétique (maglev) à basse et moyenne vitesse fabriqué par la Chine est sortie de la chaîne de production du constructeur CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co. Ltd mercredi dans la province chinoise du Hunan (centre).

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Ce train peut rouler à une vitesse maximale de 160 km/h, contre 100 km/h pour la première génération, a indiqué Tong Laisheng, chef de l'Institut de recherche sur la sustentation magnétique du constructeur CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co., Ltd..

Il affiche également une hausse de 30% en matière d'efficacité de traction et peut transporter jusqu'à 500 passagers en étant composé de trois voitures, a indiqué M. Tong.

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[Henri K.]

[numide]

Course de bateaux-dragons en Chine .




Une course de bateaux-dragons a été organisée à l'approche de la fête des bateaux-dragons à Zigui, district de la province chinoise du Hubei (centre), le 15 juin 2018.

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[Henri K.]