Beijing, January 12:

India’s petroleum minister began meetings with Chinese officials here today in negotiations focused on potential joint strategies to secure global energy assets.

Mani Shankar Aiyar, India’s petroleum minister, was due to sit down with China’s economic planning chief Ma Kai, the minister of the National Development and Reform Commmission, Indian diplomats said.

He was also scheduled to meet Fu Chengyu, chairman of the China National Overseas Oil Corporation, one of its leading upstream oil and gas supplier. Aiyar will sign a MoU on energy cooperation during his visit.