Abstract:
China is a vast and overpopulated country in the eastern Asia whose energy security and supply is the most important factor of economic growth and consequently, economic, social and political security. By the past decades, its leaders have understood the key role of economic growth and development in the economic and political security of china. Thus, they have put all their concentration on this issue. As a result, the economic growth rate of china has amounted to 10 percent, becoming the foremost element of political and social stability of china. On the other hand, maintaining this high growth rate depends on the energy security and any disturbance in energy field not only stops the economic growth but also makes the ground for the economic, political and social crisis. As a result, maintaining the energy security is of the importance in strategic goals and foreign policy priorities of the state. Thus, the statesmen tries to priorit-ize certain policies in domestic and foreign realm in order to increase the energy security namely; diversi-fication of fuel sources, focusing on the domestic products, concentrating on efficiency, establishing stra-tegic reservoirs and investing in oil-owned countries. The aim of this article is evaluating the realization of these policies.
Machine summary:
China’s Energy Strategy on the Middle East Alireza Rezaei*1, Ghasem Toraby2, Ghasem Rezaei3 1Islamic Azad University, Hamedan Branch, Iran 2Islamic Azad University, Hamedan Branch, Iran 3Islamic Azad University, Esfahan Science and Research Branch, Iran Received: 21 Dec 2011; Accepted:11 Jun 2012 China is a vast and overpopulated country in the eastern Asia whose energy security and supply is the most important factor of economic growth and consequently, economic, social and political security.
Thus, the statesmen tries to priori t- ize certain policies in domestic and foreign realm in order to increase the energy security namely; diversi- fication of fuel sources, focusing on the domestic products, concentrating on efficiency, establishing stra- tegic reservoirs and investing in oil-owned countries.
The govern- ment is focused on macro-measures in order to ensure a smooth and friendly environment for energy deals, for example, in promoting stability in the region using its international influence, in conducting active energy diplomacy, in promot- ing economic and energy inter-dependency by promoting package deals including loans, trade and infrastructure, in encouraging direct upstream investment by Chinese NOCs, and also allowing investment by Middle East countries in China’s downstream sector.
(Magnus& Burnett, 2006:15) The main rationale for cooperating with Iran is not only to secure the supply of oil and gas, but also to seek commercial opportunities for Chinese NOCs, as Iran is one of the few countries in the Middle East that assigns China the right to conduct business in its up- stream sector.