PetroChina (0857), the country's dominant oil and gas producer which also owns refineries, said on Thursday it is actively seeking acquisition opportunities in central Asia, East Africa, Australia and Canada.

Vice chairman and president Zhou Jiping was speaking at the company's results briefing, AFP reports.

PetroChina posted a 21 percent drop in quarterly earnings, lagging forecasts, weighed down by lower crude oil prices and further losses in refining and chemicals.