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
The Chinese animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2 began preview screenings in London on Friday ahead of its official release in the country and Ireland on March 21, attracting excited crowds to watch the film in advance.
The film made its debut in the UK at London's BFI IMAX, home to the country's largest IMAX screen and is scheduled to screen in over 250 cinemas of 100 cities across the UK and Ireland during the first week of release.
The film's Europe-wide distributor, Trinity CineAsia, announced that it has acquired theatrical distribution rights for Ne Zha 2 across 37 countries in Europe, including the UK, Ireland, and Germany. This scale of film release is exceptionally rare in the history of overseas distribution for Chinese-language films, reflecting the strong confidence of local cinemas in the movie's market potential.
"The fact that it is here and, you know, that we are getting a lot more influx of films from all across Asia from China, South Korea, Japan, South Asia as well. I think it's really good to kind of like widen the palate, because we all want to escape our little cinematic bubble and see what the rest of the world has to offer," said Jack Martin, a film reviewer, in an interview with the China Central Television (CCTV).
"Ne Zha 2" has shattered global box office records to become the No. 1 box office animated film of all times and also the first non-Hollywood production to crack the global all-time top 10 box office chart.
Rooted in 16th-century Chinese mythology with a bold reinterpretation, the movie has attracted attention of global audiences with its stunning visuals, well-crafted storytelling, and deep cultural heritage.
"And I think all these elements show that Ne Zha 2 is both a film that's modern, but also has its roots in something very deep and very ancient," said Cedric Behrel, managing director of Trinity CineAsia, in an interview with the CCTV.
Many audiences attending the preview screening in London have shared their thoughts about the movie in interviews with the CCTV.
"It was moving like heartwarming. Yes, I'll go home now and talk to it to all my friends," said a moviegoer.
"I thought that the humor of the film was really great, but it balances so perfectly with some of the more dramatic and heartfelt moments of it. And yeah, I really, really enjoyed it. And the language barrier was not a problem at all," said another moviegoer.
"We might not speak the same language, but at its heart is a very universal theme of friendship and just trying to do right in the world. And I think that a lot of people really resonate with that. I can see why it's done so well in China already," said Jack Martin.
James Smith, an social media influencer, shared his views about the movie in Chinese language during the interview. He thought the movie can serve as a bridge for foreigners to understand Chinese culture.
"I watched Ne Zha, the 2019 box office hit, in China. When I heard that its sequel was set to debut in the UK today, I rushed to the cinema to see it. It's definitely a great movie, filled with humor, touching moments, and encouragement. My friends often ask me how they can better understand China, because they think I know something about the country. I would say that you can watch the Ne Zha 2, as I believe it's a great film and through which you can learn something about Chinese culture," he said.
Ne Zha 2 begins preview screenings in London, captivating local audiences
