Rosneft President and Chairman of the Management Board Igor Sechin held a number of meetings with the heads of Chinese oil companies on 18 February as part of a working visit to China.

Mr Sechin held talks with CNPC General Manager Zhou Jiping. The two discussed prospects for hydrocarbon supplies to China and the creation of mutually beneficial conditions for productive cooperation in refining. The Rosneft and CNPC heads also reviewed the Chinese company's potential involvement in joint upstream projects offshore on the Russian shelf and signed a number of documents on mutual cooperation. CNPC put forward the suggestion that Rosneft participate in joint projects.

As part of the second day of his visit, Rosneft head Igor Sechin held working meetings with the senior management of Sinopec. The parties discussed a wide range of issues relating to possible cooperation offshore on Russia's shelf, as well the prospects for cooperation in refining.

Igor Sechin also held talks with Wang Yilin, Chairman of the Management Board at CNOOC. The two reviewed the Chinese company's potential involvement in joint operations on offshore field projects.

The parties decided to set up a number of working groups on prospective areas of joint offshore operations.