2025.02.20

According to the WeChat official account of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, on [month and day], the Intermediate People's Court of Ordos City in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region publicly held the first-instance trial of the bribery case involving Wang Yilin, former Party Secretary and Chairman of China National Petroleum Corporation (hereinafter referred to as "CNPC").

According to the indictment, from year to year, Wang Yilin took advantage of his positions as Deputy Party Secretary and President of the Exploration and Development Research Institute of Xinjiang Petroleum Administration Bureau, Standing Committee Member of the Party Committee and Deputy Director of Xinjiang Petroleum Administration Bureau, Party Secretary and General Manager of PetroChina Xinjiang Oilfield Company, Party Leadership Group Member and Deputy General Manager of China National Petroleum Corporation, Party Leadership Group Secretary and Chairman of China National Offshore Oil Corporation, and Party Leadership Group Secretary and Chairman of China National Petroleum Corporation. He provided assistance to certain individuals in matters such as job adjustments, project contracts, and business operations.

From year to year, Wang Yilin directly or through others accepted bribes totaling more than RMB million. The procuratorial organ has requested that Wang Yilin be held criminally responsible for the crime of accepting bribes.

It is reported that Wang Yilin made a final statement during the trial and expressed his guilt and remorse in court. At the end of the hearing, the court announced an adjournment, with the verdict to be announced at a later date.

Wang Yilin is a seasoned veteran in the petroleum industry, having served in the oil sector for many years. He spent the majority of his career at China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), with his early years dedicated to oil exploration in Xinjiang for over a decade.

After graduating from the East China Petroleum Institute with a degree in petroleum geology and exploration, Wang Yilin started his career as a junior technician at the Exploration and Development Research Institute of the Xinjiang Petroleum Administration Bureau. Over the years, he worked his way up to become the top leader of the Xinjiang Oilfield.

In [specific year and month], the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) was established, with the Xinjiang Petroleum Administration becoming one of its subsidiaries. The following year, Wang Yilin assumed the position of General Manager at PetroChina Xinjiang Oilfield Company.

In [year and month], Wang Yilin was promoted to the headquarters of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), assuming the position of Assistant General Manager of the group; several months later, he was further elevated to the roles of Vice General Manager and a member of the party leadership group.

In [specific month and year], Wang Yilin succeeded Fu Chengyu and was appointed as the chairman and party secretary of China National Offshore Oil Corporation (later renamed "China National Offshore Oil Corporation Group" in [specific year]).

In the context of the "big three" oil companies changing their leaders on the same day in [specific month and year], Wang Yilin returned to China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), succeeding Zhou Jiping as the group's chairman and party secretary until his retirement upon reaching the mandatory retirement age in [specific month and year].

On [specific date], Wang Yilin, who had been retired for four years, was investigated for suspected serious violations of discipline and law.

When Wang Yilin took office, the China National Petroleum Corporation was "facing low oil prices externally and a strong anti-corruption campaign internally," which greatly impacted the group's production and operational activities.

According to a report by Xinhua's Economic Information Daily at the time, Wang Yilin's return was imbued with "renewed significance"—his introduction of CNOOC's internationalized and corporate operational methods brought fresh vitality to the more traditional and heavily state-owned enterprise-styled PetroChina.

Wang Yilin demanded: "Do not use company resources and platforms for personal gain, do not seek political capital by any means, refrain from abusing public power for private benefit or engaging in power-for-money deals, do not obstruct or interfere with case investigations, do not meddle in material procurement or project bidding activities, and do not tacitly allow family members or close associates to exploit their special status for illegal benefits."