China Oil Imports Rise 11.5 Percent

Oil imports to fuel China’s booming economy rose by 11.5 percent in the first five months of the year, a state news agency reported Friday.

China is the world’s No. 3 oil importer after the United States and Japan, and Chinese leaders see growing reliance on imports as a strategic weakness.

Oil imports from January to May totaled 471 million barrels, the Xinhua News Agency said, citing government customs data.