China's EV charging infrastructure expands 54.5 pct in single year: data

China's electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure has maintained rapid growth this year, with the total number of facilities reaching 18.06 million units by the end of September, up 54.5 percent from a year earlier, official data showed Monday.

Public EV charging facilities stood at about 4.48 million units, an increase of 40 percent year on year, according to the National Energy Administration.

Private charging facilities expanded at an even faster pace, jumping 60 percent to nearly 13.59 million units, the administration said.

The robust growth in charging infrastructure is in line with the steady expansion of China's new energy vehicle (NEV) market. From January to September, both production and sales of NEVs posted double-digit increases.

During the period, NEV production surged 35.2 percent year on year to about 11.24 million units, while sales jumped 34.9 percent to nearly 11.23 million units.

NEV sales accounted for 46.1 percent of the total sales of new vehicles during the period, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

By the end of 2027, China aims to establish a nationwide network of 28 million charging facilities, with public charging capacity surpassing 300 million kilowatts -- sufficient to meet the demand of more than 80 million EVs, as outlined in a government plan on Oct 15.

China's EV charging infrastructure expands 54.5 pct in single year: data

China's top political advisor Wang Huning has met with delegates attending the 11th national congress of the Taoist Association of China, which was held on Monday and Tuesday in Beijing.

Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, stressed the importance of implementing the Party's basic policy on religious affairs, and of guiding followers and key figures of Taoism to contribute to the country's modernization drive.

Wang urged the association to exercise full and rigorous governance over the religion, intensify efforts to raise awareness of the rule of law, and foster an image of a Taoist community that is patriotic and devoted to the faith, maintains good conduct, abides by the law, and upholds Taoist precepts.

He encouraged the association to cultivate talent proficient in both canonical teachings and fine traditional Chinese culture, and to expand global exchange in Taoism.

At the national congress, the association adopted a revised charter, as well as a set of religious rules and regulations, and elected new leadership.

Top political advisor meets with Chinese Taoist delegates