On February 17, 2017, Minister Wan Gang met with a delegation led by Dr. Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), in Beijing. The two sides exchanged views on the eighth Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM8) to be held in Beijing in June 2017.

Minister Wan Gang welcomed the delegation and thanked the IEA for its support for China’s clean energy development and for the IEA’s efforts to promote clean energy worldwide. Clean energy is the way to green development and is an irreversible trend in China, he said, adding that China attaches great importance to CEM8 scheduled to take place in Beijing in June this year, which will not only provide a platform for exchange of views and promotion of cooperation for energy ministers of CEM member countries but also, through a rich variety of activities including the Clean Energy Ministerial, Mission Innovation Summit, clean energy technology exhibition and Innovation Theater, provide a stage for clean energy enterprises, institutes and specialists and convey greater confidence in clean energy development to CEM members worldwide.

Dr. Fatih Birol said that China’s signing of the Paris Agreement has important significance and is worthy of its image as a responsible big country in promoting global climate governance. CEM8 is a natural extension of the COP21 UN climate change conference, while the IEA, as the secretariat of the CEM mechanism, will highlight China’s clean energy programs and achievements to the world at CEM8, improve the reputation and influence of the mechanism, and contribute to the success of the meeting, giving full scope to its bridging role, he said.

Chen Linhao, Deputy Director General of the Department of International Cooperation, MOST, and Christian Zinglersen, Head of the Clean Energy Ministerial Secretariat, attended the meeting.