The ASEAN-China International Workshop was held in Beijing (China) and Bali (Indonesia) on 8 December in a hybrid format. Focusing on low-carbon investment cooperation between ASEAN and China, the Workshop aims to promote exchanges on some of the most pressing issues concerning green and low-carbon development, including solving energy access, accelerating renewables, speeding up grid construction, and developing electrified transportation. Panellists in the Workshop shared the latest progress of related policies, discussed technological innovation, showcased cooperation outcomes, and identified new cooperation opportunities, pointing out the direction and path for future ASEAN-China green and low-carbon development cooperation.

The Workshop was jointly held by the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), the Belt and Road Center (BRC) of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of China, and the Energy Foundation China (EFC). Mr. Su Wei (Deputy Secretary-General of NDRC), Mr. Dadan Kusdiana (Director General of New Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia), and Ms. Latha Ganesh (Senior Assistant Director and Alternate SOE Leader, External Relations, Energy Planning and Development Division, Energy Market Authority, Singapore), Mr. Zhai Dongsheng (Director General of BRC, NDRC), Prof. Zou Ji (CEO and President of EFC), and Dr. Nuki Agya Utama (Executive Director of ACE) attended and addressed the meeting. More than 150 representatives of government departments in charge of energy, ecology and environment, research institutes, financial institutions and businesses from China and ASEAN Member States (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand) joined the Workshop. Among the high-level AMS speakers are Mr. Pengiran Haji Jamra Weira bin Pengiran Haji Petra (Deputy Permanent Secretary (Energy), Prime Minister’s Office of Brunei Darussalam), H.E. Than Zaw (Permanent Secretary and SOE Leader, Ministry of Energy, Republic of the Union of Myanmar), and Mr. Patrick T Aquino (Director, Energy Utilization Management Bureau, Department of Energy, Philippines).

Today, COVID-19 is still ravaging the world, the journey to economic recovery remains complex and tortuous, and global climate actions face increasing challenges. Against such background, the Workshop displays the determination and confidence of China and ASEAN in promoting green and low-carbon development and creates new momentum for global sustainable development. Promoting green, low-carbon and sustainable development requires the international community’s concerted efforts, as it concerns the shared future of humankind and the welfare of generations to come.

China and ASEAN, connected by mountains, rivers and people-to-people ties, are friendly neighbours and important partners. In the future, China and ASEAN will work together to continuously promote policy and information exchanges, technological innovation, sharing of best practices, development of green projects and green finance cooperation based on the actual needs of China and ASEAN Member States. The collaboration will usher in a new era for China-ASEAN low-carbon investment cooperation and facilitate building a China-ASEAN community of shared future.