BACKGROUND

The Oil and Gas Industry Forum has met eight times. The 1998 inaugural session took place in Beijing. At the second meeting, held in Houston, Texas in 1999, discussions led to a follow-on exchange in which a U.S. natural gas experts group traveled to Beijing in February 2000 for detailed technical dialogue.

The Third Oil and Gas Industry Forum meeting convened on September 11, 2001 in Beijing, China. The second day of this Forum was canceled following the terrorist attacks in Washington, D.C. and New York. However, the first day provided significant opportunities for the U.S. and Chinese governments to advance important policy goals and hear concerns from U.S. industry in regard to China's energy market.

In July, 2002, the Fourth Oil and Gas Industry Forum was held in Houston, Texas. Members of the Chinese delegation made site visits to U.S. oil and gas infrastructure on their way to the meeting and then discussed these visits during the Forum.

The Fifth meeting assembled in June 2004 in Pudong, Shanghai, China. The agenda for the Fifth Forum focused on: China's energy industry; outlook and trends for natural gas in China, including the development of an LNG industry; and global energy market competition.

In June 2005, the Sixth Oil and Gas Industry Forum held in New Orleans, Louisiana, continued to use a panel-discussion format, facilitating open dialogue focusing on technology, market development, and the government role.

The Seventh U.S.-China Oil & Gas Industry Forum was held September 11-12, 2006 in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, P.R. China. The Forum continued to use a panel-discussion format to provide an opportunity for open dialogue. Presentations and discussions focused on important issues such as technology, market development, and the role of government in the energy industry.

In September 2007, the Eighth Oil and Gas Industry Forum held in San Francisco, California, continued to use a panel-discussion format, facilitating open dialogue focusing on energy overview, new and unconventional oil and gas production and key energy issues.

The OGIF meetings are a cooperative bilateral effort that explores solutions to existing challenges and promotes commercial oil and gas opportunities. The Forum contributes to gas policy development and provides a platform for commercial policy dialogue. Details about each meeting including topics discussed can be accessed under the "Forums" link.