Petroleum is not only one of the biggest industries in the world, it is also an indispensable part of virtually every economic sector on the planet.

From fuel for cars, trucks, planes and ships, to vital energy for industry and manufacturing, and even as part of the basic building blocks of plastics, pharmaceuticals and fertilizers, nearly every aspect of modern life depends in some way on oil.

In the world of petroleum, one of the most significant developments in recent decades has been the steadily growing relationship between China and Saudi Arabia.