CLEAN ENERGY COOPERATION BETWEEN CHINA AND CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE UNDER THE “BELT AND ROAD” FRAMEWORK: PROSPECTS AND COOPEARTIVE PATHS

Abstract

Central and Eastern Europe, in the heartland of Eurasia, is an important region for the mutual construction of the “Belt and Road”, and also a key region for foreign cooperation of China’s energy industry. According to the renewable energy development goals of Central and Eastern European countries, the proportion of non-fossil energy consumption will increase to more than 25% by 2030. The renewable energy will become one of the important routes to achieve energy transformation and clean emissions in Central and Eastern Europe. At present, the proportion of renewable energy consumption in some Central and Eastern European countries is still significantly lower than the EU’s 2030 target; therefore, the pace of energy transformation will be further accelerated. Since China has advanced technology and rich experience in wind power, hydro-power, photovoltaic, nuclear power and other clean energy fields, it can cooperate with Central and Eastern European countries in green energy project development, smart grid, engineering construction, pipe network construction and other fields. The cooperation between the two sides is highly complementary, conforms to the theme of the era of global sustainable development, vigorously promoting the green development of the “Belt and Road”, and consolidating the people-to-people bond of jointly building the “Belt and Road”. This study focuses on the energy development trend of China and Central and Eastern European countries, explores the cooperation paths of the two sides in the energy field, and puts forward targeted reference suggestions for further deepening cooperation between the two sides.