چکیده:
The article investigates the role of energy in Iran-China
relations. The authors' main argument is that energy and its secure supply is a determining factor in China's policy for developing relations with Iran. In order to become a world great power as well as to enhance its influence on international issues, China needs to continue its economic development, which in turn depends on energy supply. Since China's matchless economy has increasingly grown, its energy consumption, particularly its oil consumption, has also increased. Because of a lack of internal oil resources, China has adopted a policy of supplying energy from external resources. Regarding its oil and gas resources, Chinese leaders have always had an eye on Iran. Following the sanctions imposed on Iran, China could particularly pay for energy imports from Iran through barter, hence expanding its exports to Iran. The authors conclude that the importance of energy in countries' relations (particularly the energy security) is so significant for China that sanctions on Iran could not prevent it from promoting these relations, but on the contrary, it seems that they have added to the importance and sensitivity of Iran-China ties.
خلاصه ماشینی:
In order to become a world great power as well as to enhance its influence on international issues, China needs to continue its economic development, which in turn depends on energy supply.
That is why Chinese officials have followed some strategies within the framework of peaceful rise and economic development including the strategy of active presence in the Middle East, developing relations with regional countries, particularly Iran, as well as providing national interests at the top of which energy security is placed.
7 billion barrels oil reserves, with a very slow pace of production growth during the recent years, one can conclude that in order to provide its growing oil demand, China has to increase its imports in future.
In such conditions, China, as a rising power has adopted some policies in different regions around the world including the Middle East and has very close or intense competition with other powers, especially the USA, in order to keep up with its economic growth and to provide its required energy.
(18) Therefore, according to its energy diplomacy (to provide its energy security), China focuses closely on the Middle East in order to supply energy required for its economic development and Peaceful Rise; Iran -China relations can also be very much described within the framework of this diplomacy.
In December 2006, the Chinese National Oil Foreign Investment Company signed a contract valued six billion dollars with Iran to develop the giant gas tanks of North Pars field.