Energy partnership sees notable progress

Energy cooperation between China and other Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation economies has made significant strides across traditional energy, renewable power and infrastructure, playing an increasingly crucial role in stabilizing regional supply chains and driving sustainable growth, according to a recently released think tank report.

The report, released by the Economics and Technology Research Institute under China National Petroleum Corp, notes that a comprehensive energy partnership has taken root across the region, characterized by complementary supply and demand, green investments and stable infrastructure connectivity.

Energy security remains a paramount concern for APEC member economies, particularly as many face mounting pressures to decarbonize and restructure their domestic power grids, said the report.

Amid geopolitical volatility — including recent conflicts in the Middle East that underscored Asia's vulnerability to external supply disruptions — building a resilient Asia-Pacific energy security framework has become a shared priority, it said.

According to Lu Ruquan, president of the CNPC Economics and Technology Research Institute, energy cooperation has consistently served as an area where APEC economies can forge the broadest consensus.

Traditional energy remains a foundational pillar of this collaboration, as more than 30 percent of China's imported crude oil and nearly 60 percent of its imported natural gas originate from fellow APEC economies, with trade volumes maintaining steady growth, he said.

Concurrently, Chinese energy enterprises have actively invested in upstream oil and gas exploration and liquefied natural gas infrastructure across economies including Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Peru, he said.

At the same time, shared climate targets are accelerating bilateral and multilateral green collaboration. This shift is creating immense opportunities for joint research into renewable technologies, cross-border green investment and the alignment of low-carbon standards, Lu added.

Landmark green infrastructure projects highlight this momentum. In Indonesia, the Jatigede Hydropower Station — constructed by Chinese contractors — has delivered a dependable supply of clean electricity to support local economic development.

Meanwhile, in Malaysia, Chinese enterprises helped develop the country's largest single floating photovoltaic facility. Adopting an innovative "PV plus abandoned mine" model, the project serves as a blueprint for integrating renewable energy generation with ecological rehabilitation in tropical regions.

The report emphasizes that APEC has developed deeply intertwined regional supply chains, where reliable energy circulation safeguards regional economic integration.

Protecting energy security is intrinsically linked to safeguarding these supply chains — a core mutual interest that forms the bedrock of regional cooperation, it said.

"Infrastructure connectivity is a vital aspect of energy cooperation between China and other APEC economies, spanning oil and gas pipelines, LNG shipping routes and ultra-high voltage power transmission networks," Lu said. "This physical connectivity is backed by deeper, multidimensional partnerships in investment, trade and regulatory policy."

China is stepping up efforts to work with other APEC economies to better align customs rules to improve regional connectivity and trade facilitation.

According to customs data, China's total goods trade with other APEC economies reached 18.03 trillion yuan ($2.68 trillion) in the first seven months of 2026, up 21 percent year-on-year and outpacing the country's overall trade growth during the same period.