Official: China will not affect world energy demand

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-04-25 15:34

Nairobi -- China's increasing energy demand will not affect world energy security, said visiting top Chinese political advisor Jia Qinglin on Tuesday.

China has all along relied on itself in meeting its energy need since it has abundant coal resources and great potential in oil and natural gas exploration and development, Jia said.

"Over 90 percent of China's energy demand is met through domestic supply," he said, adding that though China's consumption of oil and gas is growing, its per capita consumption and per capita import are low.

China's per capita import of oil and gas is 100 kg, while the world average is 400 kg, Jia said. China has strengthened energy cooperation with Africa in recent years, which has become a new focus in China-Africa business ties.

"This is an example of China and Africa pursuing common development by drawing on their comparative strengths. China needs overseas energy supply to improve the well-being of its people, while Africa needs to translate its energy resources into competitive edges to promote economic development,"Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), told the opening ceremony of the China-Kenya Economic and Commercial Cooperation Forum in Nairobi.

He said stronger China-Africa energy cooperation is of great significance to promoting global development of energy resources and safeguarding global energy security.

"Such cooperation is normal business practice on the basis of equality, mutual benefit and the rules of market economy. It is totally different from the plunder committed by colonialists in Africa," Jia said.

Kenya is the final leg of Jia's official good-will visit to four African countries, which has already taken him to Tunisia, Ghana and Zimbabwe. He arrived here Monday.



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