On September 6, witnessed by Chinese President Hu Jintao and Australian Prime Minister John Howard, CNPC signed a liquefied natural gas (LNG) key terms agreement with Woodside Energy Ltd (Woodside) in Sydney. CNPC Vice President Zhou Jiping and Woodside CEO Don Voelte signed the agreement on behalf of each side.

The deal confirms the potential sale of two million tonnes of LNG per annum from the Woodside-operated Browse LNG Development to CNPC, for a period of 15 years beginning between 2013 and 2015. Woodside intends to increase its LNG supply in the future. CNPC also signed a one million tonnes per annum LNG purchase and sale agreement with Shell in Perth, Australia on September 4.

On September 4, CNPC Vice President Zhou Jiping paid a visit to Jim Limerick, Director General of Western Australia Department of Industry and Resources in Perth, and the two exchanged views on strengthening oil and gas cooperation.