OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the 9th OPEC International Seminar in Vienna, Austria, on July 9, 2025. The 9th OPEC International Seminar opened here on Wednesday, bringing together global energy leaders to discuss key issues including energy transitions, market stability, energy security, investment, technology, and innovation. (Xinhua/He Canling)
Haitham Al Ghais, secretary general of OPEC, described China as "a well-structured economy, with good and forward planning, and forecasting."
VIENNA, July 10 (Xinhua) -- The head of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said he has "full confidence" in China's economic development and called the country a "strategic partner," highlighting growing energy ties during an exclusive interview with Xinhua.
Haitham Al Ghais, secretary general of OPEC, praised China's economic development in the interview on the sidelines of the 9th OPEC International Seminar in Vienna, describing China as "a well-structured economy, with good and forward planning, and forecasting."
Al Ghais previously worked in Beijing for almost four years as the chief of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation's Beijing representative office. That experience, he said, gave him a first-hand understanding of how China is developing.
Speaking on cooperation, he said OPEC member countries enjoy excellent relations with China and its oil companies. "We are in close contact," he said. "We have the OPEC-China dialogue where we meet every year at the technical level, and on the high level."
Tourists feed seagulls on the beach of Fujiazhuang Park in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province on July 10, 2025. Dalian has been experiencing continuous high temperatures in recent days. The beach of Fujiazhuang Park in Dalian attracted a large number of tourists to cool off. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)
"We value China as a strategic partner for OPEC member countries," he said, adding that Chinese companies are investing in OPEC countries, while some OPEC members are also investing in the Chinese petroleum refining sector.
"OPEC is proud to be a partner in supporting the Chinese energy requirements for future growth," he said. "We are very confident in the Chinese economy. We have strong confidence in the Chinese government's plans for economic growth."
In its June market report, OPEC noted that, despite external pressure, including U.S. tariff measures, China's economy maintained a steady growth momentum in the first half of this year. The report also highlighted strong export performance, as well as resilient domestic consumption.
Al Ghais also emphasized two significant challenges facing the global energy market: underinvestment in energy, which may lead to future issues with energy affordability, and persistent energy poverty in many parts of the world.
An aerial drone photo taken in April, 2025 shows the Deep Sea No. 1 energy station, in south China's island province of Hainan. China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) announced Wednesday the full operation of the second phase of its flagship gas field in the South China Sea, marking the completion of the country's largest offshore natural gas development to date. (CNOOC/Handout via Xinhua)
He noted that the theme of the 9th OPEC International Seminar, "Charting Pathways Together: The Future of Global Energy," emphasized that each country should independently explore its own energy transition path, based on local conditions.
The two-day event, starting on Wednesday, features exhibitions, ministerial sessions, and high-level roundtables, bringing together global energy leaders to discuss key issues such as energy transitions, market stability, energy security, investment, technology, and innovation.
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