The Arab League (AL) and the Chinese National Energy Administration on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on China-Arab energy cooperation mechanism.

The two sides singed the MoU at the end of the 2nd conference of the China-Arab Energy Cooperation of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum in Khartoum Thursday.

Delegates to the conference had discussed the energy issue including nuclear and renewable energy, stressing the importance to develop all sorts of energy to meet the needs.

China and the AL reached consensus to conduct cooperation in the energy sector, and the two sides would strengthen cooperation in the fields of petroleum, natural gas, electrical power, renewable energy and nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

In the meantime, the two sides have agreed to hold the 3rd China-Arab Conference on Energy Cooperation in China in 2012.

Representatives of the Arab States' energy ministries, the AL, the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC), the Arab Atomic Energy Commission, the Chinese National Energy Administration and some Chinese companies took part in the three- day conference.

(Xinhua News Agency January 29, 2010)