In February 2012, Royal Dutch Shell CEO Peter Voser confirmed that Shell is in a global partnership with PetroChina and its parent company, China National Petroleum Corp.
Mr Voser said in relation to CNPC: Its part of our global partnership to optimize our business working environment inside and outside China.
The partnership was agreed during the period when CNPC was under the influence/control of Zhou Bin, the son of Zhou Yongkang, a member of the all-powerful nine-member Politburo Standing Committee. Both are mired in the unfolding Bo Xilai corruption scandal, the outcome of which is likely to determine the future of China, and appear to be on the losing side.