The main indicators proposed in the Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan, including comprehensive energy production capacity and the proportion of non-fossil energy, are expected to be achieved as scheduled. The energy security of over 1.4 billion people will be effectively guaranteed. China’s green and low-carbon development has garnered global attention, and the country has become a key driver of the global energy transition. In the following, I will outline the progress and achievements in four key areas.

First, the 14th Five-Year Plan period marks a five-year span characterized by abundant energy supply and enhanced resilience. During the first four years of this plan, China’s energy consumption increment reached 1.5 times that of the entire 13th Five-Year Plan period. It is projected that new electricity consumption over the five years will surpass the annual electricity consumption of the European Union. We have accelerated the construction of a comprehensive energy production, supply, storage, and distribution system to effectively meet the rapidly growing energy demand. In 2024, national power generation exceeded 10 trillion kilowatt-hours, accounting for one-third of the global total. Total energy production was equivalent to approximately 5 billion tons of standard coal, representing more than one-fifth of the global total, ensuring a stable and sufficient energy supply. Over the past five years, energy resource allocation has been further optimized. The national energy infrastructure network, spanning from east to west, north to south, and connecting overseas, has been significantly improved. This has effectively transformed resource advantages in central and western regions into development advantages and provided a solid energy foundation for major economic provinces to lead in development. In the eastern region, 40% of energy consumption originates from major energy transmission channels such as “West-to-East Power Transmission,” “West-to-East Gas Pipeline,” and “North-to-South Coal Transport.” We have strengthened the supply of electricity, oil, and gas for people’s livelihoods, prioritizing the resolution of bottlenecks and continuously enhancing the capacity to ensure residential energy access. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China has built the world’s largest electric vehicle charging network, with two charging stations for every five vehicles, significantly improving public convenience. We have actively responded to extreme natural disasters, restoring energy supply at the fastest possible speed and safeguarding critical energy lifelines for people’s livelihood.

Second, the 14th Five-Year Plan period represents the fastest phase of green and low-carbon transformation. China has established the world’s largest and fastest-growing renewable energy system. The proportion of renewable energy in power generation capacity has increased from 40% to around 60%. Annual new installed capacities for wind and photovoltaic power have successively surpassed milestones of 100 million, 200 million, and 300 million kilowatts, achieving significant development leaps. The pace and intensity of this development are unprecedented. Energy consumption is increasingly shifting toward green sources. Among total electricity consumption, one out of every three kilowatt-hours is generated from green energy. Nationally, the proportion of non-fossil energy in total energy consumption is expected to increase by 1 percentage point annually, exceeding the 20% target set during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. Meanwhile, the share of coal is projected to decrease by 1 percentage point annually. This dual trend of increasing clean energy and decreasing coal usage has significantly enhanced the sustainability of economic development. During this period, China’s exports of wind and photovoltaic products have cumulatively reduced carbon emissions by approximately 4.1 billion tons globally, making substantial contributions to worldwide low-carbon transitions.

Third, the 14th Five-Year Plan period is witnessing significant breakthroughs in energy science and technology innovation. China leads globally in new energy technologies and equipment. The country holds over 40% of global new energy patents. Photovoltaic conversion efficiency and offshore wind turbine capacity have repeatedly set world records. Within a few years, the scale of new energy storage has risen to the top globally. Projects such as the Baihetan Hydropower Station, the independently developed third-generation nuclear power plants “Hualong One,” and the fourth-generation high-temperature gas-cooled reactor have been completed and put into operation. In oil and gas exploration, breakthroughs have been made at depths exceeding 10,000 meters underground and in deep-sea environments over 1,000 meters below sea level. These “major national equipment” exemplify China’s robust scientific and technological capabilities. New business models and forms are flourishing. The development of smart microgrids and virtual power plants has entered a fast track. The large-scale application pilot of vehicle-to-grid interaction is accelerating. The energy industry is increasingly integrated with sectors such as manufacturing and transportation. Emerging fields and development tracks are continuously emerging, becoming a key source of new productivity.

Fourth, the 14th Five-Year Plan period is marked by continuous deepening of energy reform and sustained strengthening of development momentum. Institutional mechanisms and policy systems have been rapidly restructured. The construction of a unified national electricity market has accelerated. Coal-fired power and new energy sources have fully entered the market, with all industrial and commercial users participating. The national oil and gas network has been initially established. The Energy Law has been promulgated and implemented, further improving macro-control and industry governance mechanisms. Market vitality is accelerating its release. The number of registered business entities in the electricity market has reached 970,000, five times that of 2020. Ten measures to promote the development of private energy enterprises have been introduced. The majority of photovoltaic equipment manufacturing enterprises and over 60% of wind turbine manufacturing enterprises are privately owned. In certain nuclear power projects, private enterprises hold up to a 20% stake. It is evident that private enterprises have become a crucial force in advancing energy industry transformation and reform.

Since the beginning of the 14th Five-Year Plan, in the face of complex and evolving domestic and international energy dynamics, China has firmly safeguarded its energy security and forged a Chinese path toward high-quality energy development, offering a valuable model for global energy transition.