On August 25, 2023, on the side lines of the ASEAN Energy Business Forum 2023 held in Bali, Indonesia, Energy Foundation China (EF China), along with the Belt and Road Center of China’s National Development and Reform and the ASEAN Center for Energy, co-hosted the ASEAN-China Low Carbon Investment Cooperation Workshop. The workshop saw participation of various government departments, financial institutions, and leading companies and experts in the clean energy sector from almost all member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), who discussed deeply into the topics of the clean energy and low carbon economy transition in both China and Southeast Asia. EF China also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the ASEAN Center for Energy, four and half years after the foundation first partnered with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific in January 2019 to collaborate in promoting sustainable energy in the region. Zou Ji, CEO and President of EF China, met with government officials from multiple ASEAN countries and leaders of international organizations as well. This series of activities constitutes an important component of the foundation’s strategy to enable the low carbon energy transition in Southeast Asia, as well as a crucial aspect of its efforts to support the green development along the Belt and Road.

The ASEAN-China Low Carbon Investment Cooperation Workshop facilitated communication and collaboration among stakeholders from various countries and fields

Over 70 participants - including energy officials from countries such as Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Laos, Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand, as well as representatives from financial institutions, Chinese enterprises, industry associations, think tanks, and NGOs - attended the workshop and covered such topics as the energy transition progress in ASEAN countries, investment cooperation opportunities, renewable capacity development and integration to the grid, energy security, as well as affordable and sustainable energy consumption.

Over 70 participants attend the ASEAN-China Low Carbon Investment Cooperation Workshop in Bali, Indonesia, on August 25, 2023. Photo by the ASEAN Center for Energy

In his address, Zou Ji reaffirmed EF China’s continued commitment to supporting the energy transition cooperation between China and Southeast Asia. He also emphasized the foundation’s willingness to act as a bridge and to create platforms for communication and collaboration in energy transition.

Mr. Zhai Dongsheng, Director-General of the Belt and Road Center of China’s National Development and Reform Commission, said that his center would like to collaborate with EF China and the ASEAN Center for Energy to help establish such robust platforms. He highlighted the importance of effectively coordinating and providing guidance, aiming to support low carbon economic and trade investment cooperation between China and ASEAN countries.

Mr. Fu Fengshan, Minister-Counselor of the Mission of the People’s Republic of China to ASEAN, pointed out in his opening remarks that the workshop was convened at a very opportune moment and hoped it would provide valuable chances to expand green and low carbon development cooperation between China and ASEAN. This workshop could potentially enable the alignment of collaborative needs, the exploration of cooperation potentials, the expansion of cooperation opportunities, and the achievement of more pragmatic outcomes that benefit China, ASEAN, and even a wider region, he said.

Dr. Nuki Agya Utama, Executive Director of the ASEAN Center for Energy, proposed during his closing remarks that there is an anticipation to sustain the ASEAN-China Low Carbon Investment Cooperation Workshop within the framework of the ASEAN Energy Business Forum. He emphasized the significance of cooperation between China and Southeast Asia, urging them to continue working hand in hand on the path of energy transition. Additionally, he expressed gratitude on behalf of his center for the support provided by EF China.

At the workshop, representatives from various organizations and companies shared their experience in energy transition, such as China Development Bank, China International Capital Corporation, Silk Road Fund, State Power Investment Corporation, Longi Green Energy Technology, Golden Concord Limited (Group) Holdings Co., Ltd., China Energy International Group Co., Ltd., Power China International Group Ltd., Henan Civil Aviation Development and Investment Group, China Western Power Industrial Co., Ltd., Nanjing Golden Cooperate DC Power Distribution Technology Co., Ltd., Renewable Energy Professional Committee of China Energy Research Society, Beijing China EV100 Technology Development Co., Ltd., Climate Works Foundation, and Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet. For instance, Mr. Liu Xiaoshi, Executive Deputy Secretary-General of China EV100, shared how electric vehicles are expanding fast in China. Mr. Chen Wenbo, Chair of Nanjing Golden Cooperate DC Power Distribution Technology, introduced how their building system that incorporates photovoltaic electricity generation, energy storage, direct current distribution, and flexible loads is deployed with the support of EF China in rural areas, helping reduce coal consumption and carbon emissions while improving the local environment. Representatives from enterprises engaged in energy investment and construction projects in the region also shared their ASEAN-China cooperation achievements and potential in the field of low carbon investment. Representatives from ASEAN countries shared the challenges they encountered in energy transition and corresponding responses, expressing a desire to cooperate more with China in areas such as energy transition policies, carbon market, and energy efficiency standards. Dr. Zulfikar Yurnaidi, Manager of Energy Modeling and Policy Planning at the ASEAN Center for Energy, was joined by Mr. Liu Qiang, Director of Climate and Deputy Chief Representative for China at the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, as well as Ms. Han Wei , Director of Projects at the President’s Office of EF China, as the moderators for the event.

EF China and the ASEAN Center for Energy signed a MOU, joining forces to advance energy transition in China and Southeast Asia

Witnessed by energy ministers from ASEAN countries, Zou Ji and Dr. Nuki Agya Utama jointly signed the MOU between EF China and the ASEAN Center for Energy during the ASEAN Energy Business Forum 2023. Both sides expressed their commitment to deepening cooperation and contributing to global clean energy transition, climate change mitigation, transition to a low carbon economy, and sustainable prosperity. They also shared the belief that opportunities should be seized to advance energy security, access, sustainability, and affordability in both China and Southeast Asia.

Through a dozen bilateral and multilateral exchanges, EF China has deepened its ties with Southeast Asia

During the days before and after the workshop, EF China organized or participated in more than ten meetings and exchange activities with government officials from Southeast Asian countries and heads of international organizations.

At the trilateral meeting among Zou Ji, Mr. Zhai Dongsheng, and Dr. Nuki Agya Utama, Zou emphasized the importance of leveraging each organization’s strength to drive sustainable energy transition in Southeast Asia. He particularly highlighted the significance of collaborative efforts in facilitating information exchange between Chinese and ASEAN enterprises, uncovering cooperation potentials, and fostering partnerships between local cities. Mr. Zhai, Director-General of the Belt and Road Center of China’s National Development and Reform Commission, thanked EF China for facilitating connections between his center and the ASEAN Center for Energy, and he showed a desire to solidify the collaborative relationship among the three parties in the future. Dr. Nuki Agya Utama also expressed hopes for continued collaboration among the three parties in addressing energy supply and security issues in Southeast Asia and acting as a bridge through research reports, workshops, and corporate partnerships.

Zou and Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, discussed on how to deepen collaboration based on a MOU previously signed by the two parties. Zou expressed his hope to extend the collaboration from national strategies and action plans to industry- and enterprise-level cooperation on supply chain, thereby encouraging investments from the private sector. Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana agreed with this approach and expressed a desire for joint efforts to promote financing for just transition and support technological developments in areas including energy storage.

Zou Ji, CEO and President of EF China, meets with Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. Photo by Energy Foundation China

President Zou Ji was also invited to attend the Sustainable Energy Security Through Interconnectivity: Ministers-CEOs Dialogue, an official component of the ASEAN Energy Business Forum. He said that during the energy transition process, the concept of “building the new before dismantling the old” should be followed, i.e., to build renewable power sources, energy storage, and power grids first, and then phase out fossil energy. On the one hand, it is important to keep existing electricity generation capacity stable and limit incremental investment in fossil fuel; on the other hand, it is more important to accelerate the establishment of an energy system powered by non-fossil fuels, so as to meet people’s increasing demand for energy/power and replace fossil energy use, he said.

On the sidelines, EF China also organized a series of meetings with energy officials from Southeast Asian countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Brunei. These meetings enabled in-depth exchanges with a focus on how to accelerate energy transition in ASEAN member states while sustaining their economic prosperity. EF China outlined the directions for its future collaboration with ASEAN member states, including supporting the establishment of an ASEAN-China clean energy cooperation mechanism, facilitating technology exchanges for energy transition, promoting talent development in the clean energy sector in Southeast Asia, advancing the development of ASEAN-China standards and mutual recognition, among other initiatives. The foundation is committed to translating these cooperative efforts into actionable steps in each respective country, said Zou Ji.

In addition, to gain a better understanding of energy development in ASEAN countries and foster exchanges between representatives from China and Southeast Asia, EF China and the ASEAN Center for Energy co-organized site visits and discussions on energy projects in Bali for representatives from Chinese institutions and enterprises as well as energy officials from ASEAN governments. More than 20 delegates went to Perusahaan Listrik Negara, where they shared experiences and visited the Bali floating solar power plant. Subsequently, the participants went to the Bali Provincial Government to discuss with government officials and local business representatives about Bali’s energy transition goals, policies, actions, and opportunities of cooperation on energy infrastructure between China and the local area.

Representatives from China and ASEAN countries hold discussions and visit the floating power plant of Perusahaan Listrik Negara. Photo by EF China

EF China is stepping up its philanthropic efforts to accelerate Southeast Asia’s clean energy and low carbon economic transition

Starting from 2019, EF China has supported low carbon transition efforts in Southeast Asia, and developed and implemented relevant strategies. The foundation signed a strategic cooperation MOU with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific to support analysis and education in the region in fields such as developing local roadmaps for the Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) - which calls for affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all by 2030—as well as phasing out fossil fuels, promoting electric transportation, and sustainable refrigeration and air conditioning. With EF China’s support, local grantees developed and published a National SDG7 Roadmap for Pakistan and formed a methodology of drafting national cooling action plans, which later led to Cambodia’s National Cooling Action Plan. Additionally, the foundation facilitated the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in the establishment of its $120 million Seraya Southeast Asia Energy Transition and Digital Infrastructure Fund, which aims to fund the green energy transformation and related infrastructure development in the region.

Building on the new MOU signed with the ASEAN Center for Energy and the multi-party discussions and exchanges, EF China will further refine its Southeast Asia strategy. EF China will explore practical projects and solutions on the ground in collaboration with various stakeholders. As a philanthropy, the foundation is committed to providing continued support for the clean energy and low carbon economic transition in the region.