World's largest oil consumers to meet in Beijing December 15-16

Tokyo (Platts)--5Dec2006

Energy ministers from the world's biggest oil consuming nations are
scheduled to meet in Beijing over December 15-16 to discuss various energy
issues, an official at Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry told
Platts late Monday.
The ministers, representing the US, China, Japan, South Korea and India,
will discuss issues including diversification of energy resources, improving
stockpile strategies, removing obstacles for upstream investments and
promoting energy conservation between the countries, the official said.
The first ministerial meeting in Beijing between the world's biggest
energy consumers had been postponed from an initial schedule for end-October a
few times due to schedule conflicts among the minister.
Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Akira Amari, told Platts
in October that Japan was particularly keen to use the forum to find ways to
encourage producing countries to allow more investment, and also help China
and India with their stockpile strategies.
Japan was also keen to see greater transparency from China, particularly
in regards to the nation's own governmental supply and demand forecasts.
--Takeo Kumagai, takeo_kumagai@platts.com

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