PetroChina Southwest Oil and Gasfield Company reported robust output growth for the first half of 2026, with cumulative natural gas production reaching 25.31 billion cubic meters and oil-equivalent output surpassing 20 million metric tons, its parent company said on Sunday.
The largest natural gas producer in southwest China drilled five high-yield industrial gas wells in the first six months, each with a daily output exceeding one million cubic meters, pushing up its natural gas production by 1.296 billion cubic meters, or 5.4 percent year on year.
Meanwhile, the company registered a staggering 62.26 percent of crude oil output growth during the January-June period. Thereby, its total oil-equivalent production increased by 1.15 million metric tons, up approximately 6 percent year on year, setting a new high for the first half of any year.
"In the second half of the year, we plan to bring 177 new wells into production, with an additional annual production capacity of 4.188 billion cubic meters. By the end of 2026, the company's total oil-equivalent output is expected to exceed 41 million metric tons," said Yang Hongzhi, deputy chief geologist of Southwest Oil and Gasfield Company.
The company is responsible for over 75 percent of natural gas supply in the Sichuan-Chongqing region and 25 percent of the nation's natural gas peak-shaving tasks, delivering gas to the Yangtze River Economic Belt region and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, which benefits hundreds of millions of residents along the routes. It plays a critical role in safeguarding national energy security and advancing green, low-carbon development.
China's southwest oil, gasfield company posts robust output growth in H1
China's southwest oil, gasfield company posts robust output growth in H1
Business leaders, researchers and entrepreneurs from around the world gathered at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), where discussions are focusing on turning AI innovation into cross-border partnerships and real-world applications.
The 2026 WAIC is running in Shanghai from Friday to Monday under the theme "AI Partnership for a Brighter Future."
Across the exhibition halls, conversations often extended beyond product demonstrations, with visitors exploring potential partnerships, supply chains and overseas expansion.
Among them was Paolo Brizzi, chief information officer of Italy's Competence Center for Industry and Manufacturing (CIM), who met with a Chinese AI company to discuss cooperation ranging from industrial applications to entering the European market.
"My point is not to be a customer or a provider of technologies, but to identify parts [where we can] actually collaborate and work together," he said.
The four-day conference has also created opportunities for startups to connect with investors, researchers and potential customers. One startup launched an online networking group on the opening day, attracting hundreds of participants who exchanged ideas, explored business opportunities and sought technical solutions.
Participants said AI innovation depends not only on technological breakthroughs but also on cooperation across industries and countries.
"Collaboration is important because alone you cannot do so much. It needs to be a team support ecosystem," said Florian Wohlrab, CEO of Canada-based OpenHW Foundation.
For many international visitors, the conference is also an opportunity to explore how AI can help address practical challenges. Omar Khan, a participant from Pakistan, said international cooperation is essential to ensuring AI benefits everyone.
"I think, for me, we are all the one. We're human and I think we can cooperate a lot," he said.
Some attendees were looking for solutions to challenges in their home countries. A visitor from Kenya said AI applications such as weather forecast and soil analysis could help improve agricultural productivity across many parts of Africa, where farming remains a cornerstone of the economy.
As countries race to advance AI technologies, participants at this year's WAIC said the conference has become a platform for connecting ideas, technology and demand across borders, helping turn AI innovation into practical international cooperation.
World AI Conference highlights growing demand for global AI partnership
