China-Europe-Africa Green Energy Development Forum was held in Hangzhou from 7 to 8, September. Liu Qibao, Vice Chairman of National Committee of the CPPCC and the Chairman of China-Europe Association, Lu Shan, Deputy Governor of Zhejiang Province, and Qiu Dongyao, Vice Chairman of Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the CPPCC, attended the opening ceremony.Pierre Jean Raffarin, former French Premier, and Bertie Ahern, former Irish Primer Minister and the Chairman of the World Carbon Neutrality Committee, delivered speeches via video at the opening ceremony. Siyabonga Cyprian Cwele, South African ambassador to China, Baba Ahmad Jidda, Nigerian Ambassador to China, and Jacque Jean Nyanga, Congo Ambassador to China, delivered speeches in person at the Forum. 

With the theme of Harmonious Coexistence and Green Cooperation, the Forum aims to implement the green development concept of “lucid water and lush mountains are treasured assets” put forward by Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee. Based on interdependence of China, Europe and Africa in energy development, the Forum focused on the opportunities for match-making and development in fields of clean energy application, low carbon economy and energy structure transition, to enable the parties to complement to each other’s advantages and promote a more extensive communication and cooperation between China, Europe and Africa in the development of new energy. More than 100 delegates from China, Europe and Africa attended the forum on site or online. 

In his speech at the opening ceremony, Lu Shan said that President Xi Jinping’s proposal of “four revolutions and one cooperation” for energy safety strategy and his solemn commitment to carbon peak and carbon neutrality had pointed out a direction and provided basic principles for green energy development. Zhejiang has stuck to the blueprint and achieved remarkable results in recent years. Centered on optimizing energy structure and driven by scientific technology and policy innovation, Zhejiang has vigorously developed green energy, promoted green energy utilization and consumption level in all respects, actively advanced green energy technological breakthrough and pressed ahead with international communication and cooperation on green energy. Zhejiang is willing to make joint efforts with Europe, Africa and other countries and regions around the world, forge ahead in innovation to promote green energy development and make due contributions of wisdom and strength to China and the world in new energy development.

Xie Zhenghua, China’s special envoy on climate change affairs, Zhu Guangyao, counselor , of the State Council and former Deputy Minister of Finance, and Nan Cunhui, a member of the Standing Committee of National Committee of the CPPCC, Board Chairman of Chint Group and Vice Chairman of China-EU Association, delivered speeches at the opening ceremony successively. 

Gu Jianxin, Director of Zhejiang Provincial Foreign Affairs Office, and Sun Xudong, Deputy Mayor of Hangzhou, attended relevant activities of the Forum. 

Proposal of China-Europe-Africa Green Energy Development Forum (Hangzhou) was announced at the forum.

This Forum is sponsored by China-EU Association, and Zhejiang Provincial People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, mentored by Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and organized by Hangzhou Municipal People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the Commonweal Foundation of Chint, and Startimes Group. The Forum, which was held both on site and online, enabled China, Europe and Africa to exchange experiences on new energy cooperation, promote high-quality development in the carbon neutrality era and strive to build shared development of green energy for the parties concerned. 

(The main contents are sourced from the official wechat account of Zhejiang Provincial Foreign Affairs Office)