State Councilor Wang Yong called for countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative to jointly cope with challenges and strengthen energy cooperation.

He made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Energy Ministerial Conference and International Forum on Energy Transition, which opened on Oct 18 in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou.

Wang said President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the conference, which demonstrates the Chinese government attaches great importance to the Belt and Road energy cooperation.

Over the past five years, countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative witnessed great achievements in energy cooperation, increasing policy exchanges and communications, enhanced pragmatic cooperation and accelerated transformation, which brought tangible benefits to people in those countries.

The Chinese government is willing to join hands with other countries involved in the initiative, to explore any potential in cooperation, cope with challenges together, promote energy trade, investment and industrial capacity cooperation, and build a Belt and Road partnership on energy cooperation, Wang said.

Wang also called for all parties to promote green and low-carbon energy, improve industrial policies and technical standards, seek breakthroughs in key technologies, and make innovations in business models.

He said related countries should make continuing efforts to enhance access to energy worldwide, and focus on projects related to people’s lives to bring them more benefits.