Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei focuses on digital transformation, tech innovation in meeting with PetroChina chairman

Huawei Technologies founder and chief executive Ren Zhengfei, in a rare public appearance, recently met senior executives from PetroChina amid efforts by the nation’s largest oil and gas producer to step up its low-carbon energy initiatives.

Ren on Thursday met Dai Houliang, chairman of both the state-owned China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) and its listed arm PetroChina, in Shenzhen where they discussed “improving corporate governance, digital transformation and intelligent development, as well as scientific and technological innovation”, according to a report on Friday by China Petroleum Daily, the CNPC’s official newspaper.

The talks were held in conjunction with Dai’s visit to Huawei’s Computing Innovation Lab, the report said. The facility is responsible for research and development on the telecommunications equipment giant’s Kunpeng and Ascend processors used in data-centre servers, according to past media reports.

The meeting underscores Huawei’s long-standing ties with CNPC and PetroChina in enterprise projects that have helped modernise their operations in the energy industry.

CNPC recently worked with Huawei to build a cognitive computing platform, called E8. It uses artificial intelligence technologies such as knowledge graphs, natural language processing and machine learning to provide intelligent analyses for oil and gas exploration and production, according to an industry report from Huawei’s website.