Azerbaijani president stresses unified approach to tackle climate threat after Trump withdrawal

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has emphasized the need for major countries to make "consolidated" efforts to address the urgent challenges of climate change, which he said pose an "existential threat" to many vulnerable nations around the world.

Aliyev was speaking after U.S. President Donald Trump moved to sign dozens of executive orders following his inauguration on Monday, including one withdrawing the U.S. from the landmark Paris Agreement on climate change.

In an exclusive interview with the China Global Television Network (CGTN) on the sidelines of the 2025 World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Aliyev discussed the widespread dismay over the U.S. pulling out of the accord, particularly from the countries who are facing the gravest climate threats.

He noted Azerbaijan has been actively pushing for greater climate action, highlighted by its hosting of COP29, the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC), last year.

"Actually, when we became deeply involved in the issues related to climate change, we've seen that there is a big level of disappointment in the countries which have existential threats with respect to climate change. We all suffer from that, including Azerbaijan, but there are countries, especially small island states, which face an existential threat. And their case sometimes was not put on the center of the agenda," said Aliyev.

He stressed how the these smaller countries' lack of financial resources puts them at greater risk of the impact of climate change, and emphasized the importance of a unified approach from the world’s major powers to help those most in need.

"It is obvious that without the consolidated approach of big actors, it will be difficult to support those countries, and those countries who don't have financial resources to address climatic issues," the president added.

Further underlining the efforts Azerbaijian is taking towards a more green and sustainable future, Aliyev shared that the country has set clear clean energy targets in the coming years and welcomes investment to meet these goals. He also noted that Chinese technologies are playing a big role in the transition.

"Our immediate target by 2027 is to have two gigawatts of solar and wind, and by 2030, six gigawatt. And that will be kind of revolution in the energy mix in Azerbaijan. I'd like also to say that the investors, which are investing -- [including] foreign companies -- in these projects, [and] including local companies from Azerbaijan, they use Chinese technology. Solar panels are produced in China. Now our team is working on storage capacity. And we found out that the best batteries are in China," he said.

Azerbaijani president stresses unified approach to tackle climate threat after Trump withdrawal

Azerbaijani president stresses unified approach to tackle climate threat after Trump withdrawal

China and the European Union (EU) have agreed that it is necessary to provide general guidance on price undertakings for Chinese exporters of passenger battery electric vehicles to the EU, China's commerce ministry said on Monday.

The move aims to address relevant concerns in a more practical, targeted, and consistent manner with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, according to the Ministry of Commerce in a statement.

Accordingly, the European Commission will issue a Guidance Document on Submission of Price Undertaking Offers. In the document, the EU confirms that it will assess each undertaking application under the same legal criteria, in accordance with the principle of non-discrimination and relevant WTO rules, in an objective and fair manner.

The progress fully reflects the spirit of dialogue and the outcomes of consultations between China and the EU. It shows that both China and the EU have the ability and willingness to properly resolve differences through dialogue and consultation within the framework of WTO rules, thereby maintaining the stability of automotive industrial and supply chains in China, the EU, and the whole world. This is conducive not only to ensuring the healthy development of China-EU economic and trade relations, but also to safeguarding the rules-based international trade order, the statement said.

On the same day, the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME) also issued a statement welcoming the positive outcome of the consultations.

The CCCME noted that eligible Chinese EV makers may now submit price undertaking applications in accordance with the EU's guidance, and the European Commission has pledged to review all applications objectively, fairly, and under uniform standards.

The proper settlement of this case meets the shared expectations of industries along the EV supply chain in both China and Europe. It will help ensure the security and stability of related industrial and supply chains and safeguard the broader China-EU economic and trade relationship, the CCCME said.

The chamber expressed appreciation for the substantial efforts made by China's Ministry of Commerce in defending the interests of the domestic industry. It also pledged to encourage and support relevant Chinese enterprises in making full use of the consultation outcomes to protect their interests in exporting to the EU and promote healthy cooperation between the industries of both sides.

China, EU agree on price undertaking guidance for Chinese electric vehicle exporters: commerce ministry