Kyrgyzstan interested in increasing supplies of petroleum products from China
BISHKEK. Aug 18 (Interfax) - Kyrgyzstan is expressing interest in increasing supplies of petroleum products from China, the Kyrgyz government's press service reported on Tuesday following a visit by Deputy Prime Minister and Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry Minister Erlist Akunbekov to China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
Akunbekov and Tian Hongbin, Deputy Director of Sinopec, a Chinese petrochemical corporation, discussed establishing direct contacts between Sinopec and Kyrgyz companies working with fuels and lubricants, as well as issues related to supplies of petroleum products.
"We included executives from companies working with petroleum products in the delegation so that every entrepreneur would have the opportunity to interact directly with partners and become familiar with the issues and opportunities firsthand. Kyrgyzstan is interested in increasing the volume of supplies of petroleum products from China. This area has great potential and, I believe, is a long-term area of cooperation within the trade and economic relations between our countries," Akunbekov said in the statement.
The press service notes that Tian Hongbin expressed interest in implementing previously reached agreements on joint projects, as well as in developing cooperation in new areas in the oil industry.
According to the Kyrgyz government's website, Akunbekov announced agreements already reached to simplify and expedite the supply of fuel and lubricants on Tuesday at a meeting with Chen Xiaojian, Secretary of the Communist Party of China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Committee.
"The previous day, government agencies of the two countries held working meetings to discuss transportation issues, customs clearance, and other relevant matters related to the supply of fuel and lubricants to Kyrgyzstan. A number of our companies have already signed contracts for the supply of aviation fuel and diesel fuel. The first shipments of fuel have been successfully delivered from China," Akunbekov said.
Akunbekov said that the main goal of his working visit to China is to establish direct contacts between companies from the two countries operating in the petroleum products sector. Plans were also discussed for joint projects in oil and gas exploration and development in Kyrgyzstan, the construction of oil refineries, and the creation of infrastructure for cargo storage and handling at border crossings.
