By Conrad Richter

TORONTO, April 4, CTC -- According to a Xinhua report from Beijing quoting today's "China Daily", China pumped 38.7 millions tons of crude oil in the first quarter of 1996, more than last year in the same quarter. The report attributes the growth to "efficient management and intensified operation" in the oilfields. Total production last year was 149 million tons, 2 per cent more than 1994.

"Good results" were achieved in oilfields in Qinghai province, one of several oil production areas in the country.

Production in the first quarter is usually lowest because "most of the onshore oilfields located in the cold and windy northern part of the country are bothered by bad weather and natural disasters. But this year, production was not affected," the report said.