The deal, signed on Monday in Doha during Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping’s state visit, offers Qatar its first foray into the lucrative Chinese fuel market, following other Middle East countries, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The agreement came just two months after a huge gas supply pact reached among the same parties under which China will import 3 million tons of liquefied natural gas a year from Qatar and its partner Shell for 25 years from 2011.

Monday’s letter of intent did not give an investment figure, nor the location or timeframe of the proposed multi-billion-dollar venture. PetroChina, Asia’s top oil and gas producer and China’s second-largest refinery, will own 51% in the proposed joint venture, while Shell and Qatar will each own 24.5%, said Shell and CNPC, parent of PetroChina. (Reuters)