On September 9, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng attended the 2025 Global Energy Interconnection (GEI) Conference in Beijing and delivered an opening speech.
Han recalled that in September 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered an important address at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit, where he proposed building Global Energy Interconnection to meet the global power demand with clean and green alternatives. This provided a Chinese solution to global energy transition and sustainable development. Over the past decade, the initiative has gained broad recognition and active support from the international community.
In addition, Han noted that, the global energy system is undergoing profound transformation, with the low-carbon transition accelerating. China has long been a committed practitioner and important contributor to green development. In response to new changes and trends, President Xi Jinping proposed the new energy security strategy of "Four Reforms and One Cooperation," charting a course for China’s energy development in the new era and opening a path with Chinese characteristics.
Moreover, Han Zheng made a four-point proposal. First, to jointly advance the green and low-carbon transition of energy by deepening cooperation in renewable energy, grid interconnection, and smart energy, and by promoting effective implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. Second, to jointly promote innovation in energy technologies through collaborative R&D on clean energy use, and by integrating the power sector with modern information technology, new materials, and advanced manufacturing. Third, to jointly foster sustainable energy development by enhancing cooperation on energy access and supporting developing countries in strengthening their energy security capabilities. Fourth, to jointly expand cooperation on energy resources and capacity by advancing cross-border and regional energy infrastructure projects, enabling complementarity, mutual benefit, and win-win outcomes.
This year’s conference marks the 10th anniversary of the GEI Initiative. It officially commenced on September 8 and lasted for three days, featuring one plenary session, 24 parallel forums, and one thematic exhibition.
Mr. Xin Baoan, Chairman of Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization (GEIDCO) and President of China Electricity Council (CEC), presided over the plenary session on the morning of September 9 and delivered a keynote speech. H.E. Mr. Liu Zhenmin, China's Special Envoy for Climate Change, and Mr. Yuan Da, Secretary General of National Development and Reform Commission, attended the conference and delivered speeches. Mr. Xiao Zonghui, Member of the CPC Committee of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, attended the conference.
Mr. Xin Baoan stated that over the past decade, following the proposal of the GEI Initiative, the GEIDCO has remained committed to its founding mission, championing green and low-carbon development. With robust support from the United Nations, governments worldwide, enterprises, and institutions, GEIDCO has advanced the GEI from an initiative to concrete actions and from a concept to reality. The GEI Initiative has been integrated into frameworks such as the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and the Convention on Biological Diversity. It has been featured in the policy briefs of the UN High-level Political Forum for six consecutive years and incorporated into multilateral mechanisms, including the Belt and Road Initiative, China-Arab cooperation, China-Africa cooperation, and Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM). This initiative has garnered widespread recognition and active support from over 100 countries and international organizations.
Xin proposed five actions to accelerate GEI development: First, accelerate the reliable replacement of fossil fuels with clean energy through large-scale, efficient development, improving the cost-effectiveness and reliability of clean power generation to achieve full substitution. Second, advance new electrification by promoting the wide application of green electricity and hydrogen produced from renewable power across industry, construction, transportation, agriculture, and daily life. Third, strengthen interconnection by expanding cross-border and intercontinental grid links, upgrading power grids through digitalization and intelligence, and optimizing clean energy allocation on a larger scale, with greater efficiency and lower costs. Fourth, accelerate technological and industrial innovation in key areas such as new energy, advanced storage, resilient digital-intelligent grids, and coordinated development of generation, grid, load, and storage—driving deep integration of global clean energy industry, innovation, and value chains. Fifth, deepen international cooperation by enhancing policy coordination, expanding energy trade and industrial capacity collaboration, and building a fair, just, balanced, and inclusive global energy governance system that shares the benefits of transition with all countries.
Mr. Liu Zhenya, Founding Chairman of GEIDCO, attended the conference. Various distinguished guests attended the conference and delivered speeches, including Mr. Zhang Zhigang, Executive Chairman of State Grid Corporation of China; Mr. Zou Lei, Chairman of China Energy Investment Corporation Co., Ltd.; Mr. Lv Jun, Chairman of China Datang Corporation Ltd.; Mr. Qian Chaoyang, President of China Southern Power Grid Co., Ltd.; Mr. Li Fumin, President of China Three Gorges Corporation; Mr. Zhong Baoshen, Chairman of LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd.; Mr. David Sun, Vice President of Huawei; and other leaders of Chinese enterprises; H.E. Ms. Rola Dashti, Under-Secretary-General of United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia; Mr. Xia Huang, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region of Africa; Mr. Riad Meddeb, Director of the Sustainable Energy Hub at the United Nations Development Programme; Mr. Zou Ciyong, Deputy Director-General of United Nations Industrial Development Organization; Mr. Martin Pablo Abeles, Director of the Natural Resources Division, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean; Ms. Maria Misovicova, Chief of Resource Mobilization and Partnerships, UNFCCC Secretariat; Mr. Dario Liguti, Director of Sustainable Energy Division at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe; Mr. Liu Hongpeng, Director, Energy Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific; and other senior officials of the United Nations; Mr. Moussa Omran, Executive Chairman of the Egyptian Electricity Regulatory Agency; H.E. Ms. Gloria Sibusisiwe Magombo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Power Development, Zimbabwe; H.E. Mr. Desire Kubwimana, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mines, Energy, Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Burundi; Mr. Rodrigo Costa, Chairman of the Board and CEO of REN (Redes Energeticas Nacionais); Mr. Vladimir Norov, Former Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization; H.E. Mr. Kozhoshev Arzybek, Member of the Board (Minister) for Energy and Infrastructure of the Eurasian Economic Union; and other high-ranking representatives of the governments, enterprises, and institutions of relevant countries.
(Photo collage of selected speakers)
Several guests delivered video speeches, such as Mr. Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations; Mr. Xu Haoliang, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Acting Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme; Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific; Ms. Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact; Hon. Ibrahim Matola, Malawi’s Minister of Energy; Hon. Nani Juwara, Gambia's Minister of Petroleum and Energy; Mr. Andrés Rebolledo, Executive Secretary of the Latin American Energy Organization; Mr. Pedro Luiz De Olivera Jatoba, Chairman of the GEIDCO Brazil National Committee; Mr. Juan Carlos Araneda, Vice Chairman of the GEIDCO Latin America Regional Committee; Mr. Saifur Rahman, President of IEEE for 2023; Mr. Daniel M. Kammen, Elected Member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences; Mr. Richard Schomberg, Former Chair of IEC Systems Committee on Smart Energy; and Mr. Tomas Kåberger, Former Director General of Swedish Energy Agency and Chair of Executive Board of Renewable Energy Institute.
Mr. Liu Zehong, Executive Vice Chairman of GEIDCO; and Mr. Petteri Taalas, Former Secretary-General of World Meteorological Organization and Director General of Finnish Meteorological Institute, presided over the keynote speeches and high-level dialogue, respectively. Mr. Wu Xuan, Secretary General of GEIDCO, presented the report launch and cooperation agreements announcement.
Since 2016, GEIDCO has held six GEI Conferences, making this year’s edition the seventh. With the theme “Global Energy Interconnection: Meeting Global Power Demand with Clean and Green Alternatives”, it was co-hosted by GEIDCO, UNDP, ECLAC, ESCWA, UNIDO, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and OLADE. The conference attracted nearly 1,000 participants from over 100 countries.
During the conference, GEIDCO released a series of research results, such as the Global Electricity Development and Transition 2025, Energy Interconnection Research and Outlook 2025, and Green Energy Development for Modernization in the Global South, and signed cooperation agreements with eight institutions, including the United Nations Development Programme and Asian Development Bank.
The 24 parallel forums covered eight key themes: digital and intelligent future, energy interconnection, market policies, industrial equipment, climate and environment, technological innovation, green finance, and energy transition. Through in-depth discussions, the forums produced a series of outcomes, contributing fresh ideas and solutions for sustainable development.
Ahead of the conference, Vice President Han Zheng toured the exhibition booths and exchanged views with participating organizations and enterprises. Exhibitors included State Grid Corporation of China, China Southern Power Grid, China Huaneng Group, China Huadian Corporation, China Three Gorges Corporation, Dongfang Electric, PowerChina, China Electrical Equipment Group, China Green Development Investment Group, Huawei, Shaanxi Investment Group, LONGi Green Energy, Wasion Holdings, China Electric Power Construction Association, and Unitree.
