Renmin University of China (China) The APEC Energy Think Tank Forum 2022 will be held We will jointly discuss low-carbon energy transformation and draw a blueprint for green development

At the invitation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha of the Kingdom of Thailand, President Xi Jinping will go to Bangkok, Thailand from November 17 to 19 to attend the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Informal Leaders’ Meeting and pay a visit to Thailand.

On November 12, under the authorization and support of APEC and 21 member economies, under the guidance of the International Cooperation Department of the National Energy Administration, the Environment and Ecology Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and the Energy Division of the United Nations ESCAP (ESCAP), Supported by the Renewable Energy Committee of the China Energy Research Society, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and the Beijing Office of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, it is jointly organized by the Renmin University of China and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and the National Academy of Development and Strategy of the Renmin University of China. , Hong Kong Polytechnic University Science and Technology and Innovation Policy Research Center, Thailand-China “Belt and Road” Cooperation Research Center and China International Cultural Exchange Center “Belt and Road” Green Development Research Institute co-organized, State Grid Energy Research Institute, Hydropower and Water Conservancy Planning and Design Institute, The “APEC Energy Think Tank Forum 2022” co-organized by Sinopec Economics and Technology Research Institute, China Petroleum Economics and Technology Research Institute, the Silk Road College of Renmin University of China and the School of International Relations of Renmin University of China was held in the form of a combination of online and offline.

More than 90 people from political, business, think tanks, universities and business representatives from China, Thailand, Mexico, Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia and other APEC economies, as well as representatives from international organizations such as the United Nations, registered and attended this academic conference.

This forum aims to cooperate with high-level diplomacy, promote APEC energy think tank cooperation and academic research through think tank exchanges and cooperation, deepen academic discussion mutual learning and cultural exchanges, and discuss issues such as energy transition, technological innovation, climate finance and biodiversity. Conduct extensive exchanges; discuss in depth the opportunities and challenges of current energy transition and sustainable development from the perspectives of governments, international organizations, enterprises, and universities; practice the concept of multilateralism, tap new kinetic energy for low-carbon transformation and development, and contribute to the promotion of construction and opening up Contribute China’s wisdom to the modern world economy and start a new journey of global multilateral cooperation.

The forum set up four offline venues in Zhongguancun and Suzhou campuses of Renmin University of China, Bangkok, Thailand, and Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and 48 people participated in the forum. Amida Alis Shabana, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the United Nations ESCAP, Phichai, former Minister of Energy of Thailand, Lin Shangli, President of Renmin University of China, Xie Zhanhuan, Director of the Hong Kong Bureau of Environment and Ecology, and Director of CITIC Reform and Development Research Foundation Kong Dan, President and Fifth Vice-Chairman of China International Cultural Exchange Center, delivered an opening speech. The opening speech of the forum was hosted by Du Peng, Vice President of Renmin University of China.

Lin Shangli said that it has become the consensus of all economies to promote carbon emission reduction, energy transformation and green development in the Asia-Pacific region. In the ten years of great changes in China’s new era, energy development has made great achievements that are obvious to all the world. The energy security of more than 1.4 billion people in China has been effectively guaranteed, major achievements have been made in the construction of energy infrastructure, and major achievements have been made in new energy technologies, and China has entered the ranks of innovative economies. For a long time, China has achieved fruitful results in practicing the concept of “energy security, resilience and accessibility”. During this process, China has also actively assumed the responsibilities of promoting green and low-carbon development, energy transition, carbon emission reduction, and addressing climate change risks in the Asia-Pacific region, and has taken concrete actions to promote sustainable economic development in the Asia-Pacific region. Contribute to the protection and improvement of the regional ecological environment. He said that as a world-class university featuring humanities and social sciences, Renmin University of China has always adhered to the distinctive characteristics of “uniqueness”, and carefully built the “NPC brand” of Chinese think tanks such as the National Development and Strategy Research Institute. Conduct in-depth research on topics such as green development, climate change, environmental protection, and energy security, and actively provide intellectual support for regional development and global governance.

Amida Alis Shabana said that climate cooperation and green economic recovery are crucial to the economies of APEC, and the Asia-Pacific region also bears a major responsibility to deal with global climate change. Facing the uncertainty of world energy, ESCAP hopes that by strengthening cooperation in the field of green energy, it can achieve economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen the ability of economies to respond to the crisis.

Bi Chai said that high energy prices have led to different degrees of inflation in various regions, and APEC economies should strengthen cooperation to jointly promote the development of new energy. The application of new energy vehicles is also the focus of this year’s APEC Informal Leaders’ Meeting. It is hoped that the participants will exchange opinions and opinions from different economies through this forum, and find common solutions to the real energy challenges.

Xie Zhanhuan said that in order to cooperate with the promotion of the national “dual carbon” strategy, Hong Kong, China is striving to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050. At the same time, in order to further promote decarbonization, the Environment and Ecology Bureau will establish a new Office of Climate Change and Carbon Neutrality , to formulate strategic policies and action plans to address climate change and achieve carbon neutrality, and to accelerate the integration of district cooling systems into areas of concern, hoping to further reduce energy consumption from the infrastructure level.

Kong Dan said that Chinese-style modernization is a modernization that embodies “green and sustainable development” and a modernization that integrates the construction of ecological civilization into the overall development. The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China once again fully demonstrated the beautiful vision of the Chinese people to jointly build a green and harmonious homeland and China’s responsibilities and actions as a responsible major country. contribution.

Teng Jinguang, President of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Pan Jiang, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Department of the National Development and Reform Commission, Wei Xiaowei, Director of the International Cooperation Department of the National Energy Administration, and Su Mali, President of the Rajabhad Rajabhat University of Thailand, delivered welcome speeches. This session was presided over by Wang Yi, vice president of Renmin University of China.

Teng Jinguang said that it is very timely and necessary to discuss climate change and energy issues in the context of today’s era. He is very glad to see experts and scholars from different economies and disciplines joining this forum. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has established the goal of “realizing a carbon-neutral campus by 2035”. At present, it has formulated basic guiding principles and implemented relevant emission reduction technologies to help Hong Kong, China, achieve the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.

Pan Jiang said that China attaches great importance to addressing climate change and will unswervingly follow the path of green, low-carbon and sustainable development. The “Action Plan for Carbon Peaking Before 2030” announced by China listed energy green and low-carbon transformation actions as one of the top ten carbon peaking actions. First of all, China, as the world’s largest energy producer and consumer, insists on basing itself on its national conditions and seeking progress while maintaining stability. It has a firm attitude, pragmatic goals, and effective measures in promoting energy transformation.

Wei Xiaowei said that APEC, as one of the most important multilateral platforms for regional economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, has always placed green and low-carbon transformation and sustainable development issues in a prominent position. China will give full play to its advantages in clean energy technology and industrial chain in the next step , further deepen clean energy cooperation with other economies, especially developing economies, and make greater contributions to the global energy transition.

Su Marie said that the Asia-Pacific region is still adversely affected by the new crown pneumonia epidemic, and it is crucial for all economies to improve economic resilience and ensure sustainable economic development. This forum is of great significance for strengthening the cooperation of different stakeholders, such as the cooperation between the education sector and other sectors, the cooperation between the public sector and the private sector, etc., to jointly support the energy transition.

The keynote speech stage of the forum was presided over by Yan Jinming, executive dean of the National Academy of Development and Strategy of Renmin University of China and dean of the School of Public Administration. UNESCAP Energy Division official, APNETT expert Michael Williamson, Great Wall Motor ASEAN Region President Zhang Jiaming, Australia-Africa University Alliance (AAUN) President, Sydney University Professor John Hearn, Asia-Pacific Energy Research Center (APERC) President Kazutomo Irie, Wattana Ratanapurom, President of Surat Thani Rajabhat University in Thailand, and Song Yonghua, President of the University of Macau delivered keynote speeches respectively.

Michael Williamson believes that the energy consumption and carbon emissions of APEC economies account for a large proportion of the world, and it is necessary to develop more renewable energy, improve energy intensity, strengthen regional cooperation in research and development, and promote energy technology. innovation. At the same time, it is necessary to formulate energy-related plans reasonably, improve regional supervision, and better support and realize the long-term low-carbon transition in the Asia-Pacific region.

Zhang Jiaming believes that sustainable development has gradually become the general consensus of the international community, and the automobile industry is also undergoing unprecedented changes. Intelligentization and personalization of new energy have become the development trend of the global automobile industry. China’s new energy vehicles and intelligent network The overall technical level of Lianhe Automobile is in the leading position in the world, and Great Wall Motor will continue to promote the development and upgrading of the new energy automobile industry in Thailand and the Asia-Pacific region in the future.

John Hearn believes that this forum is a very good opportunity to help APEC update and develop its cooperation framework and help realize energy transformation and sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region. He proposed to establish an APEC university energy research network to strengthen the connection between research institutions and experts and scholars, and to establish a secretariat to coordinate research agendas and academic exchanges, so as to inject stronger impetus into energy and environmental research.

Kazutomo Irie believes that the world is currently facing very severe energy problems, and the goals of energy security and environmental protection are difficult to achieve under the current energy system that still relies heavily on fossil fuels. The Asia-Pacific region can refer to and learn from Europe’s experience in energy transformation , but we must also pay attention to the differences in energy infrastructure and energy structure between Asia-Pacific and Europe.

Wattana Ratanaprom believes that in a world of rapid digital transformation, people’s lives are affected by climate change and various environmental issues, and universities should carry out interdisciplinary research work to seek innovative solutions, Educate and encourage students to participate in the transformation of the green economy, and promote exchanges, dialogues and cooperative actions between universities, and promote public participation in environmental protection.

Song Yonghua believes that the realization of the goal of carbon neutrality requires extensive and in-depth coordination and cooperation between the international community, the government and all sectors of society, among which higher education plays an important role, especially in the cultivation of innovative talents in green and low-carbon science and technology. The University of Macau has already A systematic layout and long-term in-depth work have been carried out, and good results have been achieved in academic research, transformation of scientific and technological achievements, intellectual property protection, and personnel training.

Subsequently, three sub-forums were held successively.

Sub-forum 1 was specifically undertaken by the Thailand-China “Belt and Road” Cooperation Research Center, and an offline sub-venue was set up in Bangkok, Thailand. The theme was “Green Economic Recovery and New Energy Transportation Boom”. Major General Tapa presided over.

People from all walks of life in the APEC economies actively participated in the discussion, namely, former Minister of Energy of Thailand, Sontila, Head of the Government Relations Department of Great Wall Motors in Thailand, Kanqi, Managing Director of Thailand Jinchi Industrial Park, Luo Tieying, and Director of the School of Science and Technology of Zhuang Jiasheng Royal University. And the director of the Thailand-China “Belt and Road” Cooperation Research Center, the researcher of the Thailand-China Strategic Research Center of the National Academy of Thailand, and the young Thai sinologist Viron Phetchaon Paddy. Suntila gave a keynote speech.

Sub-forum 2 was specifically organized by the Technology and Innovation Policy Research Center of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and an offline venue was set up at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The theme was “Energy Transition and Energy Accessibility Initiatives”. Zhao Ruheng, director of the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Research Center, presided over the meeting.

People from all walks of life in the APEC economies participated in the seminar, namely Peng Yaoxiong, Director of the Hong Kong Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, Huang Yuanshan, Senior Vice President and Director of the Public Policy Research Institute of the United Hong Kong Foundation, Director of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, professor of civil engineering and environmental protection building materials Chair Professor and Director of Carbon Neutral Resources Engineering Research Center Pan Zhisheng, Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong and China Gas Huang Weiyi, Hong Kong Polytechnic University Chair Professor of Building Energy and Automation and Director of the Poon Le Tao Charitable Foundation Smart Energy Research Institute Wang Shengwei and CLP Power Senior Director of Planning and Development David Taylor . Peng Yaoxiong and Huang Yuanshan delivered keynote speeches.

The third sub-forum was specifically organized by the national high-end think tank Renmin University of China National Academy of Development and Strategy, and held in the Cultural Building of Renmin University of China. Six representatives from the energy industry conducted in-depth discussions on the theme of “green energy and ecological civilization construction”. Li Junfeng, executive director of the Research Institute and the first director of the Climate Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, presided over the meeting.

Experts and scholars from APEC economies in the fields of electromechanical, energy, and water conservancy participated in the seminar. Wu Mouyuan, vice president of the research institute, Luo Daqing, deputy general manager of Sinopec Economic and Technological Research Institute, Gong Heping, vice president of the General Institute of Hydropower and Water Conservancy Planning and Design, and Zhu Li, director of the APEC Sustainable Energy Center. Zhu Qiming made a keynote speech.

This forum is dedicated to the APEC regional youth forum, which is specifically organized by the Silk Road College of Renmin University of China. An offline venue will be set up at the Silk Road College on the Suzhou Campus of Renmin University of China. Focusing on the theme of “low carbon, zero waste and green campus smart action”, APEC Student representatives from economic entities, including Tang Hong from Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Rafael Salvador Pina Sturla from Silk Road School of Renmin University of China, Liu Guichao from School of International Relations, Renmin University of China, and Johan Fu, editor of Nexthypothesis journal from Imperial College London and New Zealand youth representative, participated had a seminar. This session was hosted by Zhou Junbang, a doctoral student from the School of International Relations, Renmin University of China, from Hong Kong, China.

At the final acknowledgment, closing and outlook of the forum, Natapa, Teng Jinguang, and Xu Qinhua, vice president of the National Academy of Development and Strategy at Renmin University of China and executive director of the Eurasia Research Institute, made summary and outlook speeches. The forum reflects the diversity and breadth of APEC economies. The participants had candid and in-depth exchanges and discussions around the forum topics, and proposed how to accelerate the green transformation and development of the APEC region and promote the implementation of global multilateral cooperation and specific action plans. comments and suggestions.

In today’s world, mankind is facing the huge challenges of global climate change and energy security. It is very important for the international community to work together to meet the challenges and jointly promote action plans.