Former Prime Minister of Belgium: China is a leader in the field of new energy vehicles | China | Prime Minister

Introduction

Former Belgian Prime Minister Yves Letem recently appeared on the interview program "Wired Global Politician Interview" jointly launched by China Observation Think Tank and China Daily New Media, acknowledging China's green transformation efforts to achieve carbon neutrality in recent years. He pointed out that China has taken on the responsibility of being a major country in addressing global climate change and has become a leader in the development and utilization of new energy. Other countries should also abandon protectionist policies, expand open cooperation, and jointly address challenges.

//Eve Letham:

I think the issue of green development is crucial. Nowadays, global challenges such as climate change, environmental issues, and nuclear non-proliferation are not limited to a country's borders. Therefore, to address global issues, countries have no choice but to cooperate. This is a matter of life and death for all humanity.

I think it's a key question you raise, of course, climate change, environmental issues, or promotion, global challenges These challenges don't take into account borders, so there is no alternative than to cooperate It's about survival of human

As far as China is concerned, I believe you have established the correct roadmap - the White Paper on China's Green Development in the New Era.

In terms of China, I think that communication by the State Council in January puts forward the right agenda - China's Green Development in the New Era with different chapters I think that's the right road map

I would like to share my views on the white paper as an outsider. I think the release of the white paper is timely and points out the direction for the transformation of heavy industry. China is currently the world's second largest industrial country, moving towards the top and will eventually gain a leading position. Therefore, as a leading economy, the key for China is to give sufficient attention to the transformation of its production mode - China has the ability to do so.

And I would like to underline a couple of features of that roadmap that I think we perceive from the outside That's quite essential It's about transforming the heavy industry China is to become the biggest industrial power in the world It is now the second one, but will be leading And so to have sufficient focus on transforming production processes is really key You have the capacities That's quite essential as a leading economy

From a domestic perspective, China is implementing the rural revitalization strategy in accordance with the 14th Five Year Plan, promoting balanced development between urban and rural areas and regions, which also helps to achieve the goal of green development. Overall, I believe that Chinese leaders have a long-term vision and are bold in exploring industrial transformation issues. And in the process of transformation, China actively adopts high-tech and continuously reduces industrial energy consumption, making green development more sustainable.

I think, internally, within the framework of the 14th Five Year Plan, the idea of rural revitalization, decentralization of growth could also help So, to sum up, the Chinese leadership has a bold vision on transforming the industry and rendering it more sustainable by using top quality technologies, less use of energy supply for instance

Moreover, equally important is that China must shoulder its great power responsibility on the global stage, and China is indeed doing so.

Last but no least, China also has to take its responsibility on the global stage, and it does

Therefore, both domestically and internationally, China has taken on the responsibility of helping the world respond to global challenges. All humanity is a community, with shared destinies and a shared future. We do not need to overly consider various artificial boundaries when dealing with climate change, but should form a community with a shared future that covers the whole world and cooperate to address common challenges.

So both internally and on the international global scene, it is really a part of the role of China that has been negotiated the course of history to help the world to address this global challenge We have a common future The future of Mankind is common And we should build shared societies throughout the world, not too many taking into account all types of artistic borders when it comes to combo climate change

Image//Eve Letham:

From a domestic perspective, I believe that China has a responsibility to achieve carbon neutrality. Because with the rapid development of the economy and the rapid improvement of people's consumption capacity, China consumes more and more resources and energy every year. However, China can reduce the negative impact of economic development on the ecological environment by accelerating the development of alternative energy through technological innovation. For example, the scale and technological level of photovoltaic power generation are leading the world. China's achievements in the use of alternative energy have attracted global attention. In order to continuously reduce carbon dioxide emissions, China should continue to move forward at full speed in this field.

Well, in terms of achieving carbon neutrality, China has a responsibility on the domestic scene, because, of course, with the growth in purchasing power, and the unexpected economic development, China consultations more and more raw materials and energy, but can reduce the harsh impact of that growing economic activity by applying scientific research technology, the best Possible technology, and by, for instance, developing very quickly the sourcing of alternative energy. You are a world leader, for instance, in the use of solar panels The whole of your energy production is quite impressive in terms of the use of alternative energy. I think that in reducing the CO2 emissions, you should go really full speed in that field

At the same time, other major countries in the world should strive to build open investment markets rather than adopting protectionist policies. Countries should strive to strengthen scientific research collaboration and engage in extensive cooperation in the production and trade of equipment such as photovoltaic devices that help reduce fossil fuel use and carbon dioxide emissions.

And the other powers in the global should try to invest in open connections, and not turn to protectionism but try to cooperate both in scientific research and also in production and trade of photovoltaic and all the devices that help us to reduce the use of basic fuels to reduce CO2 emissions

Finally, for example, if the European Union or other regions of the world want to achieve their ambitious carbon dioxide reduction goals, they must make changes in the transportation sector. The key to this change lies in the electric vehicle industry, and China happens to be a leader in this field. The European Union has long held a leading advantage in the field of traditional energy vehicles, and the automotive industries in Germany and France have always been at the forefront of the industry. But now, China has gained an advantage in the field of new energy vehicles. China has the best new energy technology and excellent new energy vehicle products. Therefore, I believe that it is important for the EU to maintain open automobile imports to meet the huge market demand, while also helping to lower the prices of new energy vehicles and enabling ordinary people to consume.

One last point, I think, for instance, if, at the level of European Union and also in other parts of the world, if we want to have any chance to reach our very aggressive goals in terms of CO2 emission reduction, we have to change, for instance, our mobility, and there, the EVs, the electric vehicles are all key And China is leading, as leading role We have been very good at fossil fuel driven cars The German industry, for instance, the French industry was piping, was cutting edge But now we see in terms of electric vehicles, you are leading You have the best technology You have excellent products And so, I think it's important that European Union remains open to import electric vehicles to respond to the very much demand, and also to lower a small bit of price of these electric vehicles in order to make them accessible for the average city

Image producer: Wang Hao, Xing Zhigang

Producer: Zhang Shaowei

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