China, which is set to import more than 55% of its oil needs this year, should seek greater diversification of oil imports, build more stockpiles and improve conservation to enhance energy security, said analysts. The country will see a continuous increase in oil imports, as domestic production cannot keep pace with the fast growing economy, said Zhou Dadi, Researcher with the Energy Research Institute under the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). The Persian Gulf accounts for the biggest part of China’s oil imports and  steps have been taken to boost imports from Africa and Central Asia in recent years. China has finished the construction of the first four national strategic oil reserves and is currently building the second batch. The country’s strategic stockpile now equals 30 days of imports, according to the National Energy Administration (NEA). State-owned oil companies have also built up their commercial stockpiles. The country’s oil consumption rose to 220 million tons in the first six months, a year-on-year growth of 15.1%. China imported 19 million tons of crude oil in July, down from a record high of 22.27 million tons in June, the China Daily reports.