On November 9, the Silk Road Energy Think Tank Alliance, led by the Energy Internet Research Institute of Tsinghua University and the State Grid Energy Research Institute, co-organized the Think Tank Voice Salon with the Beijing Electric Engineering Society and the Department of Electrical Engineering of Tsinghua University, and discussed the topic of building the Belt and Road from an energy perspective. The salon was co-organized by the Tsinghua Sichuan Energy Internet Research Institute, the Power Carbon Neutrality Special Committee of the National Energy Internet Industry and Technology Innovation Alliance, and the Comprehensive Energy System Special Committee of the China Industrial Energy Conservation and Clean Production Association. The salon also received strong support from many media outlets, such as Global Times, China Daily, China Reform News, China Standards Press, Sohu News, Energy World, Cailian Press, Nengjian, China Electric Power Research Institute Journal Center, Energy World, China Electric Power, etc., and was broadcast live online through platforms such as Tsinghua University Energy Internet, China Electric Engineering Society, High Voltage Technology, Energy World, etc. Relevant leaders and energy industry practitioners from the county party committee and county government of Wensu County, Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang participated in the salon online, and the number of online viewers was more than 10,000.
In the speech session, Wang Guanghui, general manager of the State Grid Energy Research Institute, first expressed a warm welcome to the experts and industry colleagues who attended the salon on behalf of the State Grid Energy Institute and the Silk Road Energy Think Tank Alliance. He pointed out that building the Belt and Road from an energy perspective contains an important proposition of Chinese-style modernization, which is related to the thoroughness of energy strategic cognition. He combined the series of important discussions on energy issues by the central party committee, and proposed that the construction of the Belt and Road should become an “energy belt and energy road” to serve the national security and development interests, and to achieve energy security under open conditions, it is necessary to focus on enhancing the ideological strength of energy think tanks. Wang Guanghui finally emphasized that the construction of the “energy belt and energy road” will have a great future if there are many fellow travellers with common understanding and like-mindedness.
General Manager of State Grid Energy Research Institute, Wang Guanghui
Subsequently, Deng Chun, executive deputy secretary-general of the Beijing Electric Engineering Society, introduced the dissemination and development of China’s energy thinking and the basic situation and development history of the Beijing Electric Engineering Society; and talked about the importance and challenges of the Belt and Road international cooperation projects. He said that the Beijing Electric Engineering Society will contribute to promoting scientific and technological innovation, accelerating the construction of new power systems, and serving the construction of the Belt and Road.
Executive Deputy Secretary-General of Beijing Electric Engineering Society, Deng Chun
Finally, Gao Wensheng, executive deputy director of the Energy Internet Research Institute of Tsinghua University, delivered a speech. In combination with China’s long-term deepening of exchanges and cooperation with countries along the Belt and Road, and promoting the construction of the International Coalition for Green Development on the Belt and Road, he said that the energy development of the Belt and Road needs a long-term strategic plan to achieve sustainable development, and should recognize the importance of risk management, environmental protection and other aspects in the cooperation of the Belt and Road. He believes that this salon is an important platform for strengthening cooperation among energy think tanks and reaching a broad consensus.
Executive Deputy Director of Energy Internet Research Institute of Tsinghua University, Gao Wensheng
In the keynote report session, Dr. Jian Yongfang from the State Grid Energy Research Institute and the Silk Road Energy Think Tank Alliance gave a report titled “The Energy Development of the Belt and Road Needs a More Long-term Strategic Plan”, introducing his thoughts on the characteristics and possible focus points of China’s enterprises in the energy cooperation of the Belt and Road. He believes that the internal and external environment of the energy cooperation of the Belt and Road is undergoing a change towards more obvious public product attributes, more uncertainty in the international business environment, and more complex external political environment for China. In the future construction process, it is necessary to focus on ensuring enterprise risk prevention and control, benchmarking high-standard economic and trade rules, emphasizing openness and inclusiveness, and helping the high-quality development of the Belt and Road.
Silk Road Energy Think Tank Alliance, Dr. Jian Yongfang
Suo Debo, general manager of the market financing department of China Energy Construction International Construction Group Co., Ltd., gave a report titled “Fully Building a New Pattern of Green Energy Cooperation on the Belt and Road”. He took China Energy Construction’s business development in different countries and regions under the Belt and Road Initiative as an example, and shared his experience in participating in the high-quality co-construction of the Belt and Road from the aspects of international business development layout, green and low-carbon development direction, cooperation and win-win development concept, scientific and technological innovation development means, and excellent brand development advantages. He mentioned China’s technological innovation and development achievements in the fields of environmental protection, clean energy, etc., and proposed suggestions for continuous promotion of energy construction of the Belt and Road from the perspectives of green and low-carbon, ecological construction, rule of law guarantee, benchmark construction, cooperation and win-win.
General Manager of Market Financing Department of China Energy Construction International Construction Group Co., Ltd., Suo Debo
Zhu A’cheng, general manager of the oilfield business division of Zhongman Petroleum, gave a report titled “A Rising Star of Energy Cooperation on the Belt and Road - Talking about Zhongman Petroleum’s Practice in the Field of Energy Cooperation”. He took Zhongman Group as an example and introduced the active practice of energy private enterprises in the field of overseas oil and gas development under the Belt and Road Initiative. The Belt and Road Initiative provides opportunities for energy private enterprises to participate in overseas oil and gas development, and at the same time, the overseas operation of private enterprises also promotes the diversified growth of enterprises in the international market environment, deepens the cooperation relationship between enterprises and foreign countries at the enterprise level, and contributes to the national energy security. In the next step, Zhongman Petroleum will take advantage of the Belt and Road platform to accelerate development, focusing on the five Central Asian countries, Russia, Iraq, China’s Xinjiang and other regions, and actively promote energy cooperation.
General Manager of Oilfield Business Division of Zhongman Petroleum, Zhu A’cheng
Dr. Qin Peixin from the Energy Internet Research Institute of Tsinghua University gave a report titled “Integrated Development of Oil and Gas and New Energy to Build a Green Belt and Road”. He reported on China’s energy cooperation with countries along the Belt and Road, and introduced the endowment and development status of oil and gas resources and renewable energy resources in the Belt and Road countries. He said that the transformation of the oil and gas industry is an inevitable trend to ensure energy security, achieve sustainable development of oil and gas companies and environmental protection, and the oil and gas industry and the new energy industry will coexist and develop in an integrated manner. There is an obvious complementary relationship between energy factors among the countries along the Belt and Road, and they have a strong willingness for green energy development. They should pay attention to the top-level design of green energy development along the Belt and Road, establish a long-term and systematic financial support scheme, communicate and cooperate with enterprises inside and outside the industry, and explore common interests and seek common development with the countries along the Belt and Road.
Energy Internet Research Institute of Tsinghua University, Dr. Qin Peixin
Xia Tuanli, director of ICT business strategy of Huawei, gave a report titled “Thinking and Prospects of Digital Technology Empowering Energy Construction of the Belt and Road”. He introduced how to use digital technology to improve the efficiency, reduce the cost and promote the industrial development of the energy industry, and proposed to take the lead in digital infrastructure and accelerate the intelligence of the energy industry. He combined Huawei’s development history in the energy field, and introduced the practice of combining digital technology and artificial intelligence, analyzing and processing massive data, and improving the innovation ability of the energy industry. Digitalization and intelligence are common development opportunities for countries around the world. With the help of digitalization and intelligence, the rich renewable energy potential of developing countries along the Belt and Road can be maximized into economic value, and help eliminate poverty.
Director of ICT Business Strategy of Huawei Xia Tuanli
The salon then entered the roundtable discussion session, where three groups discussed the topics of opportunities and challenges of green Belt and Road, energy industry and enterprise development under international cooperation, and digital empowerment of green energy development in western regions. Experts from various fields such as the State Grid Energy Research Institute, Tsinghua University, Peking University, State Grid Xinjiang Electric Power Company, North China Electric Power University, etc. had a lively exchange and discussion, and shared their thoughts and practices on related issues.
Zhang Yong, director of the Management Consulting Research Institute of the State Grid Energy Research Institute, chaired the salon.
Director of Management Consulting Research Institute of State Grid Energy Research Institute, Zhang Yong
This salon is a seminar held by energy think tanks to take the initiative and actively provide suggestions and plans for the construction of the Belt and Road in the energy field after the third Belt and Road International Cooperation Summit Forum. It is a specific action to implement the party and the country’s Belt and Road Initiative, and through extensive exchanges and discussions, it contributes ideas and creates value for the construction and high-quality development of the Belt and Road in the energy field.
