China Urges Asia-Pacific Green Transition at APEC Energy Ministerial

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang opened the 16th APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting in Beijing, calling on Asia-Pacific economies to balance energy security with green decarbonization. Speaking to approximately 300 delegates and international representatives, Ding put forward three priorities: expanding inclusive energy access through distributed clean power, pursuing collaborative research in digital grids and energy storage, and safeguarding supply chain stability through multilateral coordination.

The Asia-Pacific region accounts for the majority of global economic growth and a substantial portion of worldwide energy consumption. Beijing's messaging at the ministerial underscores its ambition to position domestic clean-technology capabilities—particularly in power grids, battery storage, and electric mobility infrastructure—as core solutions for regional energy transition while navigating global supply chain strains.

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang opened the 16th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Energy Ministerial Meeting in Beijing, urging regional economies to deepen cooperation on clean energy deployment, technological innovation, and supply chain security, according to reports by Xinhua and official state media. The meeting, organized around the theme of building an inclusive, innovative, and coordinated Asia-Pacific energy community, brought together around 300 attendees, including energy ministers, economic delegates, and representatives from international organizations. In his opening address, Ding highlighted China's domestic energy development, attributing recent progress to President Xi Jinping's "four revolutions and one cooperation" energy security strategy. Ding noted that China has steadily increased energy supply capacity while accelerating its low-carbon transition and expanding domestic renewable energy manufacturing. He reiterated that Beijing aims to act as a stabilizing force in world energy markets and a proactive contributor to global decarbonization. To advance regional cooperation, Ding outlined a three-point proposal. First, he called for greater inclusive sharing by carrying out APEC energy access initiatives, with an emphasis on "small and beautiful" green energy projects, distributed energy systems, and charging infrastructure to ensure equitable access across diverse economies. Second, Ding urged member economies to strengthen innovation partnerships. He proposed joint research and development in cutting-edge areas, specifically pointing to novel energy storage and digital power grids, while encouraging the deployment of mature clean technologies across varied industrial and urban settings. Third, Ding emphasized coordinated regional governance under multilateral frameworks. He called for regular dialogue and consultation to construct an efficient, resilient regional energy governance architecture, stressing the need to maintain open, smooth, and secure energy supply chains amid global market volatility.