PetroChina's chairman, Jiang Jiemin, posted strong results for the 2010 fiscal year, with revenue growth of 44% to $216.5 billion and profit growth of 35% to $20.7 billion. Often criticized for its connections to oil operations in controversial areas such as Sudan and Iran -- and despite its role in causing one of the worst spills in Chinese history last year -- the corporation has maintained its standing as one of the world's biggest companies by market capitalization. (As Fortune went to press, only Exxon Mobil and Apple are bigger.) Its expansion plans include a $3.2 billion joint venture with Royal Dutch Shell to acquire Australia's Arrow Energy. In February, PetroChina also initiated a $5.4 billion agreement to work with the Canadian EnCana Corp. to develop natural-gas reserves in Cutbank Ridge.
--W.B.
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