OPEC, China Renew Energy Cooperation, Focus on Oil Market Stability
By Eyo Nsima
The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and China have renewed their commitment to closer energy cooperation, focusing on oil market stability, energy security and investment in the petroleum industry.
The commitment was made at the eighth High-Level Meeting of the OPEC-China Energy Dialogue held in Beijing, China, on September 23, 2026.
The meeting was co-chaired by Wang Hongzhi, Administrator of China’s National Energy Administration (NEA), and Haitham Al Ghais, Secretary General of OPEC. Li Song, China’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Vienna, delivered opening remarks via videoconference.
The meeting reviewed the short-, medium- and long-term outlook for the global oil market and stressed the need for adequate and timely investment to support the industry.
The participants also examined China’s growing role in global economic activity and energy demand, with OPEC’s World Oil Outlook 2026 projecting that the country will remain one of the largest contributors to global oil demand through 2050.
Wang said the changing global energy landscape had increased the importance of dialogue between oil-producing and consuming countries.
“Currently, the global energy landscape is undergoing profound changes, making dialogue and cooperation between oil-producing and consuming nations crucial,” he said.
He described OPEC as an important partner in the global energy governance system, noting that China and the organisation established their dialogue mechanism in 2005.
Since then, the two sides have held seven High-Level Dialogues and three Roundtables, he said.
Wang said China would continue to work with OPEC and its member countries to address energy challenges and promote stability in global energy markets.
Al Ghais said the dialogue had developed into a long-standing platform for addressing common energy concerns.
“Twenty years on from the first formal event of the OPEC-China Dialogue, our relationship has grown into an enduring framework for cooperation on energy issues of common interest, particularly security of supply and demand, and market stability,” he said.
He linked the development of the relationship to China’s economic transformation, noting that OPEC member countries had contributed to the country’s growth by supplying affordable and reliable energy.
“The strength of our relationship has closely developed alongside China’s remarkable economic transformation,” Al Ghais said.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to strengthen technical and high-level engagements between OPEC and China.
The ninth High-Level Meeting of the OPEC-China Energy Dialogue will be held in Vienna, Austria, in 2027.
