China invited to explore Iraqi oil

时间：2007-06-19 09:26:33

（单词翻译:单击）

June 19 - China is welcome to explore oil resources in Iraq as a new law is set to open its oilfields to international companies, the Iraqi ambassador to China said yesterday.

 

"We encourage Chinese enterprises to join the multinational1 competition for exploration of Iraqi oilfields," said Mohammad Sabir Ismail.

 

The oil and gas law faces a parliamentary vote next month after Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki endorsed2 it in February and the Cabinet approved it the following month.

 

If ratified3, it will open the country's oil resources to foreign companies; and a frozen Sino-Iraqi oil contract could be reactivated, he said.

 

The 1997 deal to explore the Al-Ahdab field, worth $1.2 billion, was signed by China National Petroleum4 Corp and Baghdad when Saddam Hussein was in power.

 

Under the terms of the new law, all energy contracts signed by foreign producers during the Saddam era must be renegotiated.

 

"The revival5 of the deal is in the process and the two sides have established working groups to help the contract go forward," he said.

 

Ismail said Iraq's ambition is to exploit about 80 new oilfields in the coming years and produce 6.5 million barrels of oil per day by 2015.

 

It produced 2.6 million barrels a day before the 2003 US-led invasion. Production is about 2 million barrels a day at present.

 

The ambassador made the remarks on the eve of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani's week-long state visit to China starting tomorrow.

 

Talabani is scheduled to meet President Hu Jintao, top legislator Wu Bangguo and Premier6 Wen Jiabao.

 

The two sides are expected to sign five agreements on foreign affairs, the training of governmental officials and other spheres.

 

China is ready to substantially forgive debt owed by Iraq and will provide additional reconstruction7 aid to the country, the ambassador said without specifying8 the amounts.

 

He noted9 that a Sino-Iraqi joint10 committee, to be co-chaired by the Iraqi Oil Ministry11 and the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, will resume discussions on such sectors12 as trade, foreign affairs, science and technology. The joint committee held its first meeting in 2001.

 

The upcoming visit by the Iraqi president will be the first by an Iraqi head since the two countries set up diplomatic ties in 1958. Accompanied by five Cabinet members, the president and his 40-strong delegation13 will visit Beijing, Xi'an and Nanjing.

 

Touching14 on bilateral15 ties, the ambassador said the friendship between China and Iraq dates back 2,000 years.

 

"There has never been any conflict between the two countries," he said.

 

On trade, he said "made-in-China products are common in Iraqi households, especially toys", adding that the economies of the two countries are highly complementary.

 

Ismail said he hopes two-way trade increases on the back of $1.1 billion last year.

 

Chinese analysts16 described Talabani's visit as a "landmark17".

 

Yin Gang, a researcher with Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the visit shows that cooperation in various fields is returning to normal.

 

He said Talabani, who is interested in the works of Mao Zedong, has been to China before and has great affection for the country.

 
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1 multinational FnrzdL     
adj.多国的，多种国籍的；n.多国籍公司，跨国公司
参考例句：
  • The firm was taken over by a multinational consulting firm.这家公司被一个跨国咨询公司收购。
  • He analyzed the relationship between multinational corporations and under-developed countries.他分析了跨国公司和不发达国家之间的关系。
2 endorsed a604e73131bb1a34283a5ebcd349def4     
vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品
参考例句：
  • The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》
3 ratified 307141b60a4e10c8e00fe98bc499667a     
v.批准，签认（合约等）( ratify的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • The treaty was declared invalid because it had not been ratified. 条约没有得到批准，因此被宣布无效。
  • The treaty was ratified by all the member states. 这个条约得到了所有成员国的批准。
4 petroleum WiUyi     
n.原油，石油
参考例句：
  • The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
  • The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。
5 revival UWixU     
n.复兴，复苏，（精力、活力等的）重振
参考例句：
  • The period saw a great revival in the wine trade.这一时期葡萄酒业出现了很大的复苏。
  • He claimed the housing market was showing signs of a revival.他指出房地产市场正出现复苏的迹象。
6 premier R19z3     
adj.首要的；n.总理，首相
参考例句：
  • The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
  • He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。
7 reconstruction 3U6xb     
n.重建，再现，复原
参考例句：
  • The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
  • In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。
8 specifying ca4cf95d0de82d4463dfea22d3f8c836     
v.指定( specify的现在分词 )；详述；提出…的条件；使具有特性
参考例句：
  • When we describe what the action will affect, we are specifying the noun of the sentence. 当描述动作会影响到什么时，我们指定组成句子的名词。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
  • Procurement section only lists opportunistic infection drugs without specifying which drugs. 采购部分只说明有治疗机会性感染的药物，但并没有说明是什么药物。 来自互联网
9 noted 5n4zXc     
adj.著名的，知名的
参考例句：
  • The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
  • Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
10 joint m3lx4     
adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合
参考例句：
  • I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
  • We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。
11 ministry kD5x2     
n.(政府的)部；牧师
参考例句：
  • They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
  • We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。
12 sectors 218ffb34fa5fb6bc1691e90cd45ad627     
n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形
参考例句：
  • Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
13 delegation NxvxQ     
n.代表团；派遣
参考例句：
  • The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
  • We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。
14 touching sg6zQ9     
adj.动人的，使人感伤的
参考例句：
  • It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
  • His letter was touching.他的信很感人。
15 bilateral dQGyW     
adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的
参考例句：
  • They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
  • There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。
16 analysts 167ff30c5034ca70abe2d60a6e760448     
分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
  • I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。
17 landmark j2DxG     
n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标
参考例句：
  • The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
  • The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

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