China's petroleum demand slows in the 'New Normal'

China's petroleum demand growth will slow down, as China transitions toward a slower the "new normal", but crude oil import will continue to grow, said Chen Bo, president of China International United Petroleum and Chemicals Co Ltd, a member of Sinopec.

China's annual growth of petroleum consumption demand is estimated to decline to 2 percent between 2015 and 2020 per year and 1 percent between 2020 and 2030, Chen said at China-Russia Oil and Gas 2015 on Wednesday in Beijing. The country is currently transitioning to the "new normal", a term coined by President Xi Jinping to denote the country's transition to a more sustainable growth rate.

The country's petroleum consumption demand slowed in past two years.

China will continue to diversify its crude oil import sources. Russian companies will be a vital crude oil supplier of China, while North American companies will be another major supplier thanks to the fast growth of non-conventional crude oil production in the region.

"The rapid growth of shale gas production in the United States will have a long-running impact on the pattern of world energy supply, as a result, the Middle East, Africa and South America will swiftly step up efforts in competing in the Asia-Pacific region," said Chen.

Both Chinese and Russian petroleum companies will benefit from the "one belt, one road" initiative, he said.

China's petroleum consumption demand slowed in the past two years totaled 530 million metric tons in 2014.