Throughout the development of the GNSS Satellite Navigation System, China has forged a uniquely Chinese path—moving from scratch to full capability, from good to excellent, from active‑to‑passive navigation, and from regional coverage to global reach—and has cultivated the new‑era GNSS spirit of “independent innovation, open integration, unity of purpose, and pursuit of excellence.”

In recent years, driven by China’s rapid economic growth, demand for oil and gas has risen steadily, while the country’s dependence on foreign energy sources has continued to climb. In the face of a complex and ever‑changing international environment, it is China National Petroleum Corporation’s inescapable responsibility to accelerate oil and gas production and safeguard national energy security. In 2019, the vast ranks of cadres and employees across CNPC’s oil and gas development front confronted the challenges of low‑grade resources, depressed oil prices, and high costs, resolutely implementing the Group’s strategic plan to accelerate development. Firmly committed to pursuing innovative growth, they launched an aggressive campaign in exploration and development, overachieved all annual targets, and worked tirelessly to usher in a new phase of accelerated domestic oil and gas development.

Shortly after the Ministry of the Petroleum Industry was established, its first ministerial meeting resolved to dispatch two fact-finding missions to the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe to study both natural and synthetic petroleum. The directive was that these missions should “bring back viable approaches for developing China’s petroleum industry.” Led by Assistant Minister Kang Shien, the natural‑oil mission conducted an extensive review of all aspects of the Soviet petroleum sector from September 1955 to February of the following year. They also visited the Baku oil region and the Romashkino oilfield, examining the distinctive features and operational practices of both mature and newly developed fields. The delegation’s earnest attitude and their relentless, inquisitive spirit deeply impressed their Soviet counterparts. In January 1956, the Ministry of Petroleum convened the First National Petroleum Exploration Conference. While still in the Soviet Union, Kang Shien penned a lengthy letter titled “How to Search for Oil in China,” in which, by comparing China’s experience with advanced Soviet practices, he identified the reasons behind the limited success of previous exploration efforts. He recommended “formulating a comprehensive plan for all oil‑bearing regions nationwide, addressing fundamental issues first, and carrying out exploration in a systematic, step‑by‑step manner.”

On July 14, at the oilfield workers’ residential compound, 83-year-old veteran oilfield worker Xiang Linyuan and his family—four generations spanning grandparents, parents, and grandchildren—were enjoying a warm and harmonious gathering. “This is all thanks to the Party and the oilfield. We devoted ourselves to the oilfield, and in return, we’ve reaped the rewards,” the elderly man said softly, yet with heartfelt sincerity. Becoming an oilfield worker was something Xiang Linyuan had never imagined before he turned 24. His thoughts drifted back more than sixty years.

In the early 1990s, China transitioned from a net exporter of petroleum to a net importer. This shift had far-reaching, system‑wide implications for the development of China’s oil industry, making the exploitation and development of overseas oil and gas resources an inevitable necessity. In fact, as early as the late 1980s, Tong Xiaoguang, a leading expert in petroleum geology and exploration and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, foresaw the changing landscape and advocated that the oil and gas sector must “go global,” arguing that “China will ultimately still need the world’s energy.” What challenges and hardships did the oil industry encounter as it ventured beyond China’s borders, and what achievements and honors has it attained?