Chinese and Saudi think tanks join hands in petroleum studies

A leading advisory think tank in Saudi Arabia signed on Dec 6 a memorandum of understanding to promote cross-regional cooperation in energy research between the country and China.

The King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center, or KAPSARC, signed the MoU with the Economics and Technology Research Institute, or ETRI, a research institute affiliated with the China National Petroleum Corporation.

The MoU was signed ahead of the first China-Arab States Summit planned to take place this week.

Under the agreement, the two institutions will strengthen their research by collaborating on priority topics, including energy policy, climate change, energy transition, energy efficiency and productivity, hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, and energy issues under the Belt and Road Initiative, among others.

"This is a partnership that is an aspiration for the developing world as we enter a post-COVID and post-Paris Climate Agreement era," said KAPSARC President Fahad Alajlan.

"We see a lot of common interest and alignment between China's and Saudi Arabia's position when it comes to energy and climate. We both understand and reiterate the idea of common but differentiated responsibility when it comes to climate change," said Fahad.

Noting China and Saudi Arabia are both important energy producers and consumers in the world, Yu Guo, president of CNPC ETRI, said the two countries play a key role in maintaining the stability of the international energy market, addressing climate change, and promoting the realization of energy green transformation goals.