China-led energy group expands global reach

The Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization, the first international body in the energy sector initiated by China, has grown its membership from 80 to 1,390 in less than a decade since its establishment in 2016.

Speaking at the 2025 Global Energy Interconnection Conference in Beijing, Xin Baoan, chairman of the Beijing-headquartered organization, said the members now come from 143 countries. He added the group has signed cooperation agreements with more than 60 government departments and international agencies worldwide.

Since its founding, GEIDCO has focused on advancing an initiative to meet global power demand with clean and green energy.

Xin said the organization has so far provided training for nearly 10,000 people from over 100 countries and helped promote a series of global energy interconnection projects in Southeast Asia, Africa, and Central and South America.

He also made proposals to speed up the development of global energy interconnections to benefit people around the world. Among them was a call to replace fossil fuels with green electric power and electricity-based hydrogen production in sectors such as industry, construction, transportation, agriculture, and households.

"This will create a new energy consumption model centered on electricity that is green, low-carbon, efficient, convenient, intelligent, and flexible," Xin said.

He also urged stronger cross-national and intercontinental grid connections and upgrades to make power grids more digital and intelligent.

Noting that renewable energy output varies with time zones and seasons, and that prices can fluctuate, Xin said better energy transmission would allow clean power to be allocated on a broader scale, improving efficiency and cutting costs.

The conference, running from Monday to Wednesday in Beijing, drew nearly 1,000 participants from more than 100 countries and international organizations, including the United Nations.

Now in its seventh edition, the event is organized by the Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization.