On October 19, the Second China-Europe-Africa Green Energy Development Forum opened in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province. In his opening speech, Zhao Zhiguo, Chief Engineer of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, expressed, “We are willing to enhance our collaboration with European and African partners in the field of green energy, to explore new avenues for cooperation, and to make a greater contribution to global green and low-carbon transformation.”
Currently, green energy plays an increasingly vital role in the global energy restructuring. During the forum, over a hundred representatives, including government officials, ambassadors from China, the European Union, and Africa, engaged in discussions centered on the theme “Collaborating on Green Energy and Jointly Addressing Global Climate Change.” The discussions focused on five key topics: a review and outlook of China-Europe-Africa cooperation in new energy, the internal driving forces of this cooperation, opportunities for collaboration, the establishment of a China-Europe-Africa green financial partnership, and the creation of a collaborative industrial chain in green energy.
Zhang Chunhui, Vice President of the China-EU Association and Chairman of Chint Group, emphasized the complementary strengths each region possesses in the green energy sector. He noted that through mutually beneficial cooperation, countries can share knowledge, technology, and resources, thereby accelerating the green transition. He highlighted that China’s photovoltaic industry has achieved world-leading technological standards and supply chain advantages after nearly two decades of innovative development. Meanwhile, Europe boasts rich experiences in green energy policies, technological innovation, and market mechanisms, serving as a benchmark for global green energy development. Africa, on the other hand, is endowed with abundant solar resources and significant potential for green energy growth.
The transition of global energy towards greener solutions—from solar power plants and hydropower stations to wind farms—demonstrates that China, Europe, and Africa are effectively leveraging their respective advantages to make strides in green energy collaboration. For example, Li Shisheng, Deputy General Manager of China Power Engineering Consulting Group, shared during his keynote speech that his company has partnered with local organizations in Africa to construct multiple green energy projects, such as the Kafue Gorge Dam in Zambia, the Adama Wind Farm in Ethiopia, and the Nyabira Solar Power Station in Zimbabwe, thereby injecting a continuous stream of green electricity into Africa’s energy grid and empowering local economic development.
To ensure the sustainable development of green energy, it is essential for China, Europe, and Africa to seize cooperation opportunities. Sun Lei, General Manager of Bernard Group’s China operations, pointed out the clear complementary advantages between China and France in the energy sector. He emphasized that both sides could work together to drive innovation in green energy technologies and expand into third-party markets, delivering green energy technologies and equipment to regions in need.
