China gets 40%+ of its oil from abroad; most arrives by sea

China concerned about guaranteed supply of crude

Wants to boost overland supplies of oil; working w/ Russia to secure pipeline supplies

Russia would supply China w/ 15M tonnes of oil by rail

China actively pursuing alternatives to imported oil

China locked in dispute w/ Japan over how to develop gas fields in East China Sea

Investing in or aiding countries like Sudan for access to oil and gas supplies

Did about $8B worth of business w/ Iran who is in standoff w/ West over its nuclear program

China and Japan in race for long-promised crude pipeline from Russia

"At the moment we are trying to rely on ourselves for energy supply and at the same time trying to find clean, alternative energy resources." -- Liu Jianchao, chief spokesman, Foreign Ministry, People's Republic of China

"At the same time, one of the purposes of China's diplomacy is to ensure a good international environment for China's development, so we work with partners all over the world for common interests." -- Jianchao

"We are ready to work with the United States, with the European Union, with our partners in the Middle East, for the safe supply of oil." -- Jianchao