People visit the booth of ZhenHua Oil during the 4th Iraq International Exhibition and Conference for Oil, Gas and Petroleum Projects at the Baghdad International Fairgrounds in Bagdad, Iraq, Sept. 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)
BAGHDAD, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- The 4th Iraq International Exhibition and Conference for Oil, Gas and Petroleum Projects kicked off on Tuesday at the Baghdad International Fairgrounds, drawing local enterprises and global energy giants, including major Chinese firms, to showcase technology and deepen energy cooperation.
The four-day exhibition was inaugurated by senior Iraqi officials, including Oil Minister Basim Mohammed Khudhair and Minister of Electricity Ali Saadi Waheeb.
Chinese energy firms at the exhibition highlighted their long-standing operations, advanced technologies, and contributions to Iraq's economic recovery.
Fang Jiazhong, president of PetroChina Iraq, told Xinhua that his company has been involved in developing and operating key oilfields with partners since 2008, as one of the first international oil companies to enter Iraq's post-war energy market.
Fang said that PetroChina continues to advance technology transfer, industrial empowerment and community co-construction to bolster sustainable energy cooperation between China and Iraq.
"ZhenHua Oil currently operates four oilfield projects in Iraq," said the company's assistant general manager Ma Cheng.
The Chinese company has also partnered with the Iraqi Oil Ministry to establish the ZhenHua Oil Scholarship program, which has sponsored 59 Iraqi students to pursue graduate degrees in China, according to Ma.
An Haiyang, general manager of the Iraq branch of China Oilfield Services Limited (COSL), said that since entering the Iraqi market in 2011, his company has introduced a suite of self-developed exploration and development technologies and equipment, effectively boosting the quality and efficiency of the local oil and gas industry.
COSL has also collaborated with local universities, including the University of Baghdad and the University of Misan, to build practical training platforms for young Iraqi talents, An said.
Li Shiguang, president of Zhongman Petroleum and Natural Gas Group (ZPEC), described Iraq as one of the company's most important overseas markets.
In 2025, ZPEC established Babylon Petroleum Equipment Company in Iraq's southern province of Basra, bringing advanced Chinese equipment manufacturing capabilities to the country.
Li said that ZPEC plans to increase investment and expand operations in Iraq to help elevate bilateral energy cooperation.
In recent years, Chinese companies have actively engaged across Iraq's energy value chain, bringing advanced technologies, expertise and equipment to the country, deepening practical energy cooperation between China and Iraq, supporting Iraq's recovery and promoting mutual benefits.
People walk past the booth of PetroChina during the 4th Iraq International Exhibition and Conference for Oil, Gas and Petroleum Projects at the Baghdad International Fairgrounds in Bagdad, Iraq, Sept. 8, 2026.(Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)
A single purchase
