Jia Xiaoxia

Jia Xiaoxia, also known as Margaret Jia, is the general manager of CNPC International (Canada), who has long lived in Calgary, Alberta.

Documents from an investment service organization and CNPC-Alberta Petroleum Center, show that in January 2007, CNPC International (Canada) rented development rights for 11 oil sands blocks covering 258 square kilometers in Alberta, but no large development has been started. Local government documents show that CNPC paid CA$ 28 million for the 15-year licenses through an agent. But no information about the agent is available.

Jia, who graduated from Fudan University in Shanghai, joined CNPC and has worked for the company's branches in Ecuador and Canada. Public documents show that she was spokeswoman for CNPC's subsidiary in Ecuador, NPC Amazonas, in 2003. That was the year the company signed production-sharing contracts for the country's Oriente Block 11 project.

Media reports say Jia has also participated in CNPC's oil projects in Venezuela and Sudan.

Jia has been active in business circles in Calgary. She is a board member of the Canada China Chamber of Commerce, joining several other executives from Sinopec and CNOOC.

Her public appearances have become rare since December. A source from Canada's oil industry said Jia is in Canada but rarely appears in public.

The last public appearance of Jia was on February 2, when she donated two Ping Pong tables on behalf of CNPC International (Canada) to Mount Royal University. When asked about whether Jia is the head of CNPC's Canada operations, a CNPC executive said Li Zhiming in charge. Li was arrested in late June.

A source from PetroChina International Investment said that Jia's position is nominal and seemingly designed for her.

In mid April, Caixin tried to contact Li about his job and arrangement with Jia via email, but got no reply.