China makes strides in green development

A series of facts and data unveiled the remarkable strides China has continuously made in developing its green economy and transforming its environmental landscape over the past decade.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, the country has firmly upheld the belief that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.

In 2023, China's total installed renewable energy capacity reached 1.45 billion kilowatts, according to data from the China National Energy Administration.

It accounts for over 50 percent of the country's total installed power generation capacity – and 4.6 times the figure of 2012.

In 2023, China's new energy investment grew by 34 percent from the year before.

Solar power investments exceeded 92 billion dollars and wind power investments surpassed 52 billion dollars.

The International Energy Agency says by the end of 2024, China will lead global clean energy investments with 675 billion U.S. dollars, driven in-part by the strong domestic demand for solar cells, lithium batteries and electric vehicles.

In the realm of energy efficiency, from 2012 to 2023, China's energy consumption per unit of GDP decreased by 27 percent and the productivity of major resources increased by over 60 percent, said statistics released by the China National Development and Reform Commission.

The share of renewables in China's total energy consumption increased from 15.5 percent in 2013 to 25.9 percent in 2023.

This was facilitated by stringent energy standards and massive retrofitting projects.

Driven by the strong demand for green transformation, China's innovation and industrial strength has significantly improved.

In 2014, China sold only 75,000 new energy vehicles.

Less than a decade later, sales exceeded 9.4 million vehicles, leading to a domestic market share of almost 32 percent.

China has established the world's largest, most complete and competitive clean energy industry chain.

It comprises the production of photovoltaic modules, for which China has been a global leader for 16 consecutive years, and the production of polysilicon, silicon wafers, cells and modules, making up over 80 percent of the global supply.

China has also made significant progress in reducing carbon emissions.

From 2012 to 2023, China's carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP decreased by more than 35 percent, according to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

China has also announced a comprehensive plan to manage its carbon footprint this year, with the aim of contributing to the development of international rules around carbon production.

China makes strides in green development

China has experienced remarkable technological and industrial innovations over the past year, with new quality productive forces transforming production and lifestyles, said Zheng Shanjie, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, at a press conference in Beijing on Thursday.

Since last year, the term "new quality productive forces" has emerged as a key concept in China's economic discourse. Innovations such as AI large models, humanoid robots, and domestically developed original drugs are not only gaining traction within the country but are also making waves internationally.

Speaking at the press conference on the sidelines of the ongoing third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), Zheng emphasized that these technological breakthroughs are accelerating amid external pressures, showcasing China's progress in independent innovation.

"Integrated circuits have drawn significant attention, with both production and exports hitting historic highs, as an increasing number of products are now powered by 'China-made chips.' Large-scale AI models are vying for dominance and emerging as a new force, industrial robot density has risen markedly, humanoid robots are accelerating their practical application, and a wave of internationally competitive, homegrown original drugs continues to break new ground. These advancements underscore a clear truth: the greater the external pressure and containment efforts against us, the more they fuel our drive to accelerate self-reliant innovation," said Zheng.

China's industrial upgrading is also accelerating, helping to usher in economic and social development, according to the official.

"Last year, China's high-tech manufacturing and equipment manufacturing sectors accounted for 16.3 percent and 34.6 percent of the value added in industrial enterprises above the designated size (those with main business revenue greater than 20 million yuan or more, or about 2.7 million U.S. dollars), respectively. Meanwhile, electromechanical products such as smartphones and computers made up nearly 60 percent of total exports. The new energy vehicle (NEV) industry, honed over a decade of dedicated development, has now established a fully integrated industrial chain. These developments highlight the accelerating shift of China's industrial chains toward the medium- and high-end," he said.

China's technological breakthroughs reshape economic, social development: official