Chinese ambassador rejects overcapacity allegation

China

Chinese ambassador rejects overcapacity allegation

2024-04-23 11:36 Last Updated At：04-24 19:11

Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng has dismissed the U.S. allegation of China's "industrial overcapacity," saying the problem is "over-anxiety."

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Harvard Kennedy School China Conference 2024 on Saturday, Xie said that global green capacity is in dire scarcity.

He also said that setting green trade barriers would only increase the costs for low-carbon transition, and also slow down the global development of clean energy.

"To combat climate change, resources across the world should be fully mobilized. Globally, green capacity is not excessive, but in dire scarcity. The problem now is not 'overcapacity,' but 'over-anxiety.' Calling for stronger climate response on one hand, but erecting green trade barriers on the other would only raise the costs for one's own low-carbon transition, and also slow down the global development of clean energy. Global public goods offered by China including the BRI are open to all sides. We are willing to coordinate with the United States and jointly explore third-party market cooperation. Will the U.S. side also welcome China to be part of its multilateral initiatives?" said Xie.

Xie called for cooperation in a turbulent world.

China focuses on achieving Chinese modernization at home and forges a community with a shared future for mankind abroad, Xie said.

"The world is again at a crossroads, all countries are in the same boat. Amidst the raging torrents, we need to pull together, not pull apart. China's choice is clear and firm: At home, we'll focus on achieving Chinese modernization. Internationally, we'll forge a community with a shared future for mankind. The world will be better only when all get better. Modernization should not make the rich richer and the poor poorer in China and globally alike. No country should be left behind in the process of global modernization," said Xie.

According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), renewables accounted for 43 percent of the global installed power capacity by the end of 2023. Solar and wind power were the two leading the growth of renewable energy capacity.

However, the current status is still far from the COP 28 target, which is for the installed renewable power capacity to reach 11 terawatts by 2030 to help contain global warming. That means the world needs 1,000 more gigawatts of renewable capacity each year for the rest of this decade.

Expert highlights significance of President Xi's upcoming visit to France

2024-05-03 22:45 Last Updated At：05-04 00:17

Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming state visit to France marks a pivotal moment for strengthening Sino-French strategic cooperation amid global tensions, according to Pascal Boniface, founder of the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs.

From May 5 to 10, Xi will tour Europe, including stops in France, Serbia, and Hungary -- his first European visit in five years.

During an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) in Paris, Boniface shared his perspectives on the importance of this visit.

"It's a very important visit, because, as you have mentioned, President Xi has not visited Europe for the last five years due to COVID-19. And it's a very important period of time due to many wars: the wars between Russia and Ukraine, the war in Gaza between Palestinians and Israelis. I think it's a very important time to enhance the cooperation, strategic cooperation between France and China, and to think about the way we could together try to ease the tension and to make progress towards peace," Boniface explained.

Boniface also discussed the potential impact of Xi's visit on Sino-French relations, emphasizing that it provides a platform for Xi to articulate Chinese policies to the French people.

"Because President Xi will be seen by most of the French people and will read important speeches, so he could elaborate Chinese policy and present its policy to the French people. It is good to have a visit, because it will be in the spotlight for two days, or even before by the fact, because we have begun to speak about the Chinese president's visit since now. So it's a very good way. And I think we need to have regular visits, regular meetings between our two leaders," Boniface noted.

Regarding Europe's strategic autonomy -- a policy endorsed by French President Emmanuel Macron during his visit to China last year -- Boniface stressed the significant work still required for France to achieve this goal without compromising its commitments to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

"To be frank, many of French people share this view, but not too many people inside Europe. So it's really a work in progress, because most European countries are dedicated to American umbrella, strategic umbrella. And so, for some of them, most of them, to be frank, the strategic autonomy of Europe could be a way to be separated from the USA. It's not the case, so we have to work a little bit more to convince our partners. But we could have strategic autonomy without leaving NATO," Boniface said.