Europe is staring down another winter energy crunch as gas reserves are on track to hit their lowest level in 13 years, fueling "winter panic" across energy markets, The Guardian reported on Saturday.
According to the UK newspaper, the European Union (EU)’s gas storage sat at just 63 percent in the final week of August, far below the seasonal average of roughly 80 percent recorded in recent years. At the current rate of consumption and refilling, the bloc is projected to enter the winter heating season with reserves at their lowest since 2013, experts were quoted as saying.
The report attributed the shortfall to multiple converging pressures. Ongoing military conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran has disrupted energy exports from the Gulf region, making it increasingly difficult for the EU to achieve its gas storage target of 80 percent full by the start of winter. At the same time, a bitterly cold end to last winter and scorching heatwaves across Europe this summer have driven up natural gas demand for electricity generation, accelerating the depletion of already dwindling stockpiles, it said.
'Winter panic' looms over Europe as gas reserves heads for 13-year low: UK newspaper
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday held positive and constructive phone talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on China-U.S. relations and the interaction between the two heads of state.
During the talks, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that President Xi Jinping's visit to the United States in September was smooth and successful.
The two heads of state agreed to enrich the connotation of a new vision of China-U.S. relations, providing clearer strategic guidance for exploring a right approach for the two countries to get along with each other, Wang said.
The stable momentum of China-U.S. relations has not come easily and is the two major countries' rational choice based on their respective and common interests, Wang said.
China, having maintained a stable and consistent policy towards the United States, is willing to strengthen communication and cooperation with the U.S. side, properly handle differences and sensitive issues, support each other in hosting the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting and the G20 Summit, and work to bring a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability into effect and deliver results, Wang said.
Chinese FM holds positive, constructive phone talks with Rubio on China-U.S. ties
