** Shares of Australian energy firms .AXEJ rise as much as 2.6%, their highest since April 4

** Set for best weekly gain in nearly 5 months

** Oil prices pulled ahead after China said its door is open for tariff talks with the U.S. O/R

** Both Brent crude futures LCOc1 and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures CLc1 up 0.6% by 0136 GMT

** Top energy firms Woodside WDS.AX and Santos STO.AX advance 2.5% and 2.8%, respectively

** Energy index down 16.2% YTD vs largely flat benchmark ASX200 .AXJO

(Reporting by Kumar Tanishk in Bengaluru)

((Tanishk.Kumar@thomsonreuters.com; X: @thatstanishk http://www.x.com/thatstanishk;))