Chinese authorities on Thursday condemned the «sabotage» of the Nord Stream gas pipeline that took place in September and called for an end to «bullying» in the energy sector as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine progresses.
China’s ambassador to Russia, Zhang Hanhui, said he «understands Russia’s actions to protect its interests in the energy market internationally.» «China strongly condemns any kind of sabotage actions. Such deliberate actions destroy civilian infrastructure and it is unacceptable,» he has said.
«China opposes the bullying policies put in place by some countries in the sector and will never allow foreign forces to interfere in China-Russia energy cooperation,» the diplomat said in statements carried by the Interfax news agency.
He also pointed out that China has become the main consumer of natural gas worldwide and indicated that it has a «great potential to increase gas imports».
«Sino-Russian energy cooperation is a cornerstone in the relationship of the two countries and a positive factor in maintaining energy security globally. These first ten months of 2022, gas supplies from Russia to China have increased by 173 percent compared to the same period last year,» he explained.
In this regard, he has shown readiness to enhance cooperation and relationship between the parties to achieve «mutual benefits». «We can also intensify cooperation in all aspects of the production chain,» he stressed.
