On November 21, 2023, Ambassador Fu Cong, Head of the Chinese Mission to the European Union, was invited to deliver opening remarks via video at the 2023 China-Europe Offshore Renewables Development and Cooperation Forum.
Ambassador Fu said that China-EU relations are showing an upward momentum, with frequent high-level exchanges and increasing consensus on cooperation, which has pointed out the direction for practical cooperation in various fields, including clean energy. The China-Europe Offshore Renewables Development and Cooperation Forum is held to implement the important consensus reached by leaders of both sides on strengthening dialogue and cooperation in the field of clean energy. It is also an action to implement deliverables of the China-EU high-level dialogues on environment and climate, and economy and trade, and of the China-EU Energy Dialogue.
Ambassador Fu pointed out that the EU leads the world in offshore renewables with advanced technological solutions and operational experiences. China is the world's largest offshore renewables market. In recent years, this market has been growing rapidly, with extensive application of technologies and huge demand for products and services. So in terms of clean energy cooperation, including offshore renewables cooperation there is a solid foundation, strong consensus and a bright prospect. There is a lot we can do together. Such cooperation will not only enable China and the EU to leverage respective strengths to promote economic and social development, but also inject impetus to the recovery of the world economy.
Ambassador Fu emphasized that as the world's major economies, China and the EU share common responsibilities in tackling global challenges such as climate change, and in accelerating green transition and low-carbon development. China and the EU should strengthen dialogue and coordination, build consensus, handle differences properly, and overcome barriers to promote clean energy cooperation, including offshore renewables cooperation. First, China and the EU should adhere to partnership and build a solid foundation for cooperation. Second, the two sides should adhere to the principle of mutual benefits and win-win cooperation. Third, favorable conditions should be created and problems solved through consultation.
The 2023 China-Europe Offshore Renewables Development and Cooperation Forum was held in Yancheng city, Jiangsu province. It was jointly hosted by China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute, European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, and Yancheng Municipal People's Government, themed as “Strengthen China-Europe cooperation on offshore renewables for a shared green future”. Ren Jingdong, Deputy Administrator of China’s National Energy Administration, attended the forum and made opening remarks. More than 300 participants from Chinese and European government agencies, enterprises, and academia also attended.