Saudi Aramco recently hosted a Chinese delegation of 19 members composed of key stakeholders, experts, and professionals for a six-day visit of company operations that also offered a glimpse of the Kingdom’s rich culture.
The delegation was officially welcomed on Nov. 22 by Saudi Aramco president and CEO, Amin Nasser, as well as other management at the company’s headquarters in Dhahran.
Partners on the Silk Road
“As you know, our two nations and our people share historic bonds. For centuries, the Silk Road joined the two sides of Asia. Today, those ancient bonds are being renewed and revitalized,” said Nasser. “Yet, just as the old Silk Road handled much more than silk, there are now massive volumes of trade between our nations, and we also find a lively exchange of ideas and information, not just in the areas of energy and commerce but also in science, technology, the arts and culture. It is a rich tapestry, and one we should all celebrate.”
Further elaborating on the many ties between Saudi Aramco and our friends in China, Nasser said the future holds even more promise for the longstanding relationship.
“We are, of course, your nation’s No. 1 supplier of crude oil. We have close partnerships in the downstream sector with the leading Chinese oil enterprises such as Sinopec and China National Petroleum Corporation — here in Saudi Arabia, and in China,” he continued. “But we also rely on Chinese firms for oil field services, engineering and construction activities, and materials used in all aspects of our operations. We are looking forward to increased Chinese direct investment in the Kingdom as well, as we endeavor to double our local content levels to 70% by 2021, shorten our supply chains, and plant the seeds for even greater prosperity for our people.”
The tour of Dhahran included visits to Oil Supply Planning and Scheduling, the Exploration and Petroleum Engineering Center, and the Upstream Professional Development Center.
On Nov. 23, the delegation continued the trip by visiting the Ras Tanura Refinery and RT Terminal, where they were welcomed by Ibrahim Naimi, general manager of RT Refinery.
The delegation also paid a visit to the Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Science & Technology Center and then visited King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) and Dhahran Techno-Valley. At KFUPM, the delegation was received by the university’s senior management headed by HE Dr. Khaled S. Al-Sultan, Rector of KFUPM.
Up close look at YASREF
One of the final stops on the tour was a visit to Yanbu’, where the delegation paid an on-site visit to the Yanbu’ Aramco Sinopec Refining Company (YASREF) — our joint venture with Asia’s largest refiner, Sinopec.
The weeklong familiarization tour concluded with a visit to the King Abdullah Sports City in Jiddah, and the delegation also had an opportunity to visit the historic site of old Jiddah.
In conjunction with the visit, Chinese government officials visited Jazan Economic City (JEC), where JEC management delivered a presentation outlining the planning and construction progress of the city. Aramco Asia president Nabil A. Al-Nuaim led a tour of Jubail and Ras Al-Khair, where opportunities for Chinese investment were discussed, and on Nov. 24 the government officials attended a luncheon hosted by Saudi Aramco Abdallah I. Al Saadan, senior vice president of Finance, Strategy & Development.
The comprehensive tour was well-received by Chinese officials.
“Saudi Aramco’s superb management and commitment to technology leadership have left us with a great impression,” said Huang Mingzhong, director with the Division of Foreign Capital and Overseas Investment, Guangdong Development and Reform Commission. “I am confident that through our joint efforts, resources in Saudi Arabia and China will be sufficiently leveraged to deliver abundant business opportunities and promote economic growth.”
Photo caption: A Chinese delegation of 19 members met Saudi Aramco president and CEO, Amin Nasser, as well as other management at the company’s headquarters in Dhahran on November 22, 2015.