- China is strengthening its role as a key anchor in a fairer and brighter global energy ecosystem.
- Experts at the forum agreed that all energy sources must grow in tandem to meet the rising global demand.
The International Energy Executive Forum (IEEF) 2025, themed “Join Forces to Shape a Fair, Secure, and Intelligent New Global Energy Ecosystem”, took place at the China National Convention Centre in Beijing from Thursday to Friday. The event once again positioned Beijing as a pivotal hub for global dialogue on the future of energy. Moreover, it brought together leading figures from government, industry, finance, and academia to discuss how the world should respond to the rapidly evolving global energy landscape.
The forum offered in-depth insights into emerging trends across the international energy sector while also presenting a clear and detailed assessment of China’s strategy for developing a modernised energy system. Delegates consistently emphasised that China, which has already diversified its energy supply and achieved notable breakthroughs in energy-related technologies, is steadily solidifying its role as a cornerstone of a fairer, more secure, and more intelligent global energy framework. Additionally, speakers highlighted that China’s continued investment in innovation and infrastructure places it at the forefront of shaping long-term global energy transformation.
Daniel Yergin, a former United States Presidential Energy Advisor and Vice Chairman of S&P Global, noted that the global community must adopt a comprehensive approach. He stated that the world requires all forms of energy, oil, gas, coal, and renewables, to work together, rather than following a simplistic narrative in which one type entirely replaces another. Furthermore, Lu Ruquan, President of the Economics & Technology Research Institute (ETRI), agreed with this assessment. He observed that rising energy demand across the Global South, alongside surging electricity consumption driven by artificial intelligence, necessitates the concurrent development of multiple energy sources. He added that varying national circumstances, including cost, security, and policy preferences, are increasingly fragmenting what was once a unified push towards carbon neutrality.
During the event, CNPC ETRI presented three significant reports: World and China Energy Outlook 2060 (2025 Edition), Report on the Development Achievements of China’s Oil and Gas Industry During the 14th Five-Year Plan Period, and the Global Energy Governance Report. These publications collectively provided data-driven evaluations of the global and domestic energy environment, outlining strategic directions for the coming decades.
Since its launch in 2013, the IEEF has evolved into a flagship annual platform that connects China with the broader world while fostering cross-sector collaboration. Co-hosted by CNPC ETRI and S&P Global, this year’s edition welcomed around 400 participants, including senior officials from relevant Chinese ministries, executives from international and domestic energy enterprises, leaders of multilateral institutions, financiers, and prominent academics. Consequently, the forum served as both a space for strategic exchange and a catalyst for cooperation.
Qian Xingkun, Executive Director of CNPC ETRI, concluded the forum by reaffirming its commitment to “pragmatic cooperation and open sharing”. He emphasised that the IEEF will continue to work with global partners to provide intellectual contributions toward building a fairer, safer, and smarter global energy ecosystem. He also underscored that such joint efforts will help create a more prosperous future for global energy development.