By Yan Pei
China.org.cn staff reporter in Guangzhou

The first Asian Energy Forum opened in Guangdong Province on August 9, 2009, in an effort to promote energy cooperation between Asian countries and to explore ways to develop a low-carbon market in Asia.

With a theme of "Energy Revolution: Growth, Green and Cooperation," the forum aims to serve as a platform for cooperation and innovation in the field of energy. According to Wu Jianmin, a renowned diplomat in China and Chairman of the conference, the Asian Energy Forum also hopes to establish a dialogue for energy development in Asia.

The first Asian Energy Forum opened in Guangdong on August 9, 2009. The forum aims to boost communication and cooperation in the energy sector among Asian countries.

During the past decade, Asia has been one of the fastest growing economic regions in the world. However, the current global financial crisis and turbulence in the world oil market have posed an enormous challenge in some of Asia's developing countries, including China, India and Pakistan. As a result, it is of great significance for Asian countries to step up communication and cooperation in the energy sector, discuss the current energy situation and map out its development, and find ways to adopt a low-carbon economy.

Wu Jianmin, a renowned diplomat in China and the Chairman and one of the initiators of the forum, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the first Asian Energy Forum in Guangzhou on August 9, 2009.

"The Asian Energy Forum is the first energy forum in Asia that is initiated by private institutions and enterprises," Wu said. The event received great support from the International Energy Agency, the United Nations Development Program and International Association for Energy Economics, and the World Bank. The governments and institutions of Asian countries including Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, India and Pakistan were also big contributors.

According to Wu, Guangzhou has been designated as the permanent host city of the forum. It is located in Guangdong Province, which is known as the economic power house of China. As of 2008, Guangdong generated the largest GDP among all provincial-level jurisdictions in China, accounting for about 1/8 of the country's total GDP. However, Guangdong lacks natural resources and its primary energy supply mainly relies on other Chinese provinces and overseas imports. Therefore, the province attaches great importance to the development of new energy. In July, the Guangzhou municipal government released the "Guangzhou New Energy and Renewable Energy Development Plan: 2008-2020," the first of its kind in China. According to the plan, by the year 2020, new energy consumption will account for 15% of the city's total energy consumption.

Wang Yang, member of the CPC Politburo and Party Secretary for Guangdong Province, addresses the audience at the opening ceremony of the first Asian Energy Forum in Guangzhou on August 9, 2009. The Guangdong Provincial Government and Guangzhou Municipal Government attach great importance to the forum.

Speeches delivered at the opening ceremony were given by high-ranking officials, including: Wang Yang, a member of the CPC Politburo and Party Secretary of Guangdong Province; Cheng Siwei, a renowned economist; Angelo Reyes, Energy Secretary of the Philippines; and Sun Qin, Deputy Director of the China National Energy Administration.

(China.org.cn August 10, 2009)