Vladimir Norov: “SCO countries focus on energy cooperation”

On 23 March 2021 Beijing was the venue of a conference dedicated to the launch of the Global Energy Interconnection (GEI) Development and Cooperation Platform.

The event was held both online and offline. Its aim was to pool the efforts, at international level, of government structures, companies, financial institutions, analytical centres, universities and other organisations of interest in conducting joint research, studying investment cooperation prospects and creating global energy systems.

The conference was attended by about 500 people from among the top managers and executives of the energy sectors of 54 countries (including all members of the SCO family), as well as representatives of the diplomatic missions accredited in the PRC.

SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov sent a video address to the participants to congratulate the heads of the Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organisation (GEIDCO) with the GEI Development and Cooperation Platform launch.

Mr Norov noted that this mechanism of cooperation pursued useful goals: to upgrade energy supply systems in the member countries, encourage the energy transition, promote the formation of an up-to-date energy infrastructure, increase energy efficiency and facilitate the adoption of mutually beneficial cross-border projects. In this context, he emphasised that the Platform is designed to promote green, low carbon and sustainable development strategies because these issues have become ever more urgent against the backdrop of the global climate change.

He emphasised that the SCO member countries are paying a great deal of attention to energy cooperation. It is described in the SCO fundamental documents: the Charter, the Development Strategy of the SCO until 2025, and the Programme of Multilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation until 2035. The Secretary-General noted that energy cooperation between the SCO countries has made steady headway over a period of the past few years. They have adopted and are carrying out specific projects, gradually determining the goals of future work, the most important of which is to unite the efforts for sustainable energy development of the SCO countries.

In conclusion, Mr Norov said that the GEI Platform principles create opportunities for further discussion of the prospects of cooperation between the SCO and GEIDCO.

In his speech GEIDCO Chairman Liu Zhenya spoke about the Platform's main goals in the integration and global energy unification. He noted these are aimed at coordinating the main areas of activities with a view to ensuring the effective development of energy sectors.

Having praised the Platform's goals and principles, the other participants noted the need for the stage-by-stage implementation of the tasks involved in the global energy unification of all interested countries, primarily African and Eurasian states. They made expanded presentations on the effective introduction of this mechanism at national levels, taking into account the current economic, industrial and financial features of national development.

The GEI Development and Cooperation Platform launch ceremony took place at the close of the conference.