Cooperation between Russia and China in the oil and gas energy sector: common prerequisites, political and legal framework, key areas and development projects

Economic Annals-ХХI: Volume 193, Issue (9-10), Pages: 15-24

Citation information:
Karlusov, V., & Yarkov, D. (2021). Cooperation between Russia and China in the oil and gas energy sector: common prerequisites, political and legal framework, key areas and development projects. Economic Annals-XXI, 193(9-10), 15-24. doi: https://doi.org/10.21003/ea.V193-02


Vyacheslav Karlusov
D.Sc. (Economics),
Professor of the Department of World Economy,
Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO University)
76 Vernadsky Ave., Moscow, 119454, Russian Federation
vk5577@yandex.ru
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2632-1542

Dmitry Yarkov
PhD Student (International Economics),
Department of World Economy,
Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO University)
76 Vernadsky Ave., Moscow, 119454, Russian Federation
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2323-8591

Cooperation between Russia and China in the oil and gas energy sector: common prerequisites, political and legal framework, key areas and development projects

Abstract. China’s economic cooperation with Russia has been expanding since 2016. Since 2010, China has been the main trading partner for Russia, and in 2020 the volume of imported energy resources to China amounted to USD 32 billion with total imports of USD 130 billion – a record in the history of relations between the countries. The oil and gas sector is no exception in this case, and China is trying to increase its position on the import of Russian oil and gas by participating in the financing of various gas and oil pipelines being built near the border with Russia. At the same time, and from an economic point of view, China has no more profitable option to receive oil in large volumes, including to support heavy industry.

The purpose of the work is to analyze the past experience of supporting oil and gas energy in the framework of cooperation projects between Russia and China.

Scientific novelty. In this article, from the methodological point of view of a systematic retrospective analysis, the general prerequisites, the political and economic base of the study, the main trends and problems, directions and specific projects of cooperation between Russia and China in the oil and gas energy sector are considered.

Practical significance. The results of the work will be useful for analyzing projects in the field of oil and gas cooperation at the country level.

Keywords: Russia; China; Energy; Oil; Gas; Cooperation; Economy; Projects; Problems; Prospects

JEL Classіfіcatіon: N55; Q35; F13

Acknowledgements and Funding: The authors received no direct funding for this research.

Contribution: The authors contributed equally to this work.

Data Availability Statement: The dataset is available from the authors upon request.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21003/ea.V193-02

References

  1. British Petroleum p.l.c. (2017). BP Annual report.
    https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/news-and-insights/reimagining-energy/annual-report-bp-2017-business-numbers.html
  2. British Petroleum p.l.c. (2017). Statistical Review of World Energy.
    https://www.connaissancedesenergies.org/sites/default/files/pdf-actualites/bp-statistical-review-of-world-energy-2017-full-report.pdf
  3. Chen Aizhu, & Meng Meng (2017, January 23). Russia beats Saudi Arabia as China’s top crude oil supplier in 2016. Reuters.
    http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-economy-trade-crude-idUSKBN1570VJ
  4. China Economic Weekly. (2018, January 9). 15 years of negotiations on the Chinese-Russian oil pipeline.
    http://world.people.com.cn/n1/2018/0109/c1002-29754237.html (in Chinese)
  5. Enerdata. (2020). Global Energy Statistical Yearbook 2019.
    https://www.enerdata.net/system/files/publications/global-energy-trends-2019-edition-enerdata.pdf
  6. Henderson, J. (2018). Russia’s gas pivot to Asia: Another false dawn or ready for lift off? Oxford Institute for Energy Studies.
    https://www.oxfordenergy.org/publications/russias-gas-pivot-asia
  7. International Trade Centre. (2020). List of importing markets for a product exported by the Russian Federation in 2020.
    https://www.trademap.org/Country_SelProductCountry.aspx?nvpm=1%7c643%7c%7c%7c%7cTOTAL%7c%7c%7c2%7c1%7c1%7c1%7c1%7c%7c2%7c1%7c1%7c1
  8. Karlusov, V. V. (2008). Russian-Chinese economic relations in the integration field of Eurasia. World and National Economy (Internet Journal of MGIMO), 5(2).
    https://mirec.mgimo.ru/2008/2008-02/rossijsko-kitajskie-ekonomicheskie-otnosheniya-v-integracionnom-pole-evrazii (in Russ.)
  9. Neftegaz.ru. (2014, May 21). Gazprom and CNPC agreed to supply gas to China for 30 years for $400 bln. Gazprom stocks rocketed.
    https://neftegaz.ru/news/view/124388 (in Russ.)
  10. Neftegaz.ru. (2018 July 19). Gas from Yamal LNG arrived in China via the Ice Silk Road. Summer on the Northern Sea Route.
    https://neftegaz.ru/news/view/173462
  11. Neftegaz.ru. (2018, December 24). As planned. Gazprom completed the main works on the linear part of the Power of Siberia-1.
    https://neftegaz.ru/news/view/178032
  12. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, & International Energy Agency. (2018). World Energy Report 2018.
    https://www.iea.org/weo2018
  13. People. (2018). Completion of the construction of a win-win future Chinese-Russian loan for oil.
    http://world.people.com.cn/GB/8829907.html
  14. President of Russia. (2004). Action Plan to implement the provisions of the Treaty on Neighborhood, Friendship and Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China (2005-2008).
    http://archive.kremlin.ru/text/docs/2004/10/78193.shtml (in Russ.)
  15. President of Russia. (2009). On Ratification of the Agreement with the PRC on the Encouragement and Mutual Protection of Investments. Federal Law No. 54-ФЗ.
    http://www.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/3738 (in Russ.)
  16. State Statistical Office (SSO) of China. (2018). China Statistical Yearbook 2017.
    http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/ndsj/2017/indexeh.htm
  17. The State Duma, The Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. (2002). Good-Neighborly Friendship, Cooperation Treaty between the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China. An electronic fund of regulatory, technical and regulatory information of the Kodeks Consortium.
    https://docs.cntd.ru/document/901792686 (in Russ.)
  18. Titarenko, M. L., Petrovsky, V. E., Portyakov, V. Y., Ostrovsky, A. V., & Kovalevskaya, V. V. (2015). Russian International Affairs Council Institute of Far Eastern Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
    https://russiancouncil.ru/common/upload/RIAC-WP-Russia-China-En.pdf
  19. Trade Representation of the Russian Federation in the People’s Republic of China (n.d.). Plan of Russian-Chinese investment cooperation.
    http://www.russchinatrade.ru/assets/files/ru-ru-cn-coop/rus+china%20plan.pdf (in Russ.)
  20. Transneft. (n.d.). Eastern Siberia-Pacific Ocean Pipeline System. Skovorodino – Kozmino section (ESPO-2).
    https://en..ru/about/projects/realized/espo
  21. Xinhua News Agency. (2009). The upcoming regular meeting of the heads of states of China and Russia will serve to deepen bilateral practical cooperation.
    http://russian.people.com.cn/31521/6779238.html (in Russ.)

Received 6.04.2021
Received in revised form 19.05.2021
Accepted 29.05.2021
Available online 19.10.2021