On September 18–20, the Office of Fossil Energy (FE) participated in the 18th annual U.S.–China Oil and Gas Industry Forum (OGIF) in Houston, Texas.

OGIF is a public-private partnership designed to foster conversation and engagement between government and industry on oil and gas issues. The U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency hosted this year’s OGIF. China’s National Energy Administration (NEA) also sent representation to the event.

Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy (ASFE) Steven Winberg gave the opening and closing remarks for the United States, while Li Ye, the Executive Director General for Regulation from the NEA, gave the opening and closing remarks for China.

“As the world’s largest economies, the United States and China share a common interest in ensuring a robust, transparent, and stable world energy market—an efficient, open international market with diverse sources of supply, which benefits both the United States and China,” said ASFE Winberg in prepared remarks.

Noting the increase in U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, ASFE Winberg also pointed out that the Department of Energy (DOE) has approved more than 21 billion cubic feet per day of LNG exports to destinations around the world.  He also underscored the fact that the U.S government “stands behind every export authorization it has granted.”

“The Department of Energy has never vacated or rescinded an LNG export authorization over the objections of the authorization holder,” ASFE Winberg said.  “So, importers of U.S. LNG can be confident in our authorization process and decisions. And, if there’s one message I’d like you to take away today, it’s this—when it comes to LNG, the United States is open for business. ”

In addition to remarks from U.S. and Chinese energy officials, the Forum featured panel discussions to facilitate dialogue between government and industry of both countries. FE’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oil and Natural Gas Shawn Bennett moderated a panel focused on natural gas policies and regulation.  Other panels discussed U.S.-China oil and gas relations and cooperation and investment in natural gas upstream, midstream and downstream sectors.

The United States remains the world’s leading producer of natural gas, and last year became a net exporter of natural gas on an annual basis for the first time since 1957. Earlier this year, the U.S. also became the largest global producer of crude oil.