On the morning of August 27, the 2022 World New Energy Vehicle Congress (WNEVC) opened in Beijing. Li Keqiang, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Premier of the State Council, sent a congratulatory letter. Cai Qi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Party Committee, announced the opening of the congress. Wan Gang, Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and President of China Association for Science and Technology, joined online. Zhang Yuzhuo, Secretary of the Leading Party Members Group, Vice President in charge of daily work, and Chief Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the China Association for Science and Technology, read the congratulatory letter. Feng Fei, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee and Governor of Hainan, Yin Yong, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, and Xin Guobin, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, addressed the congress online and offline.
Feng Fei said in his virtual speech that Hainan has always regarded new energy vehicles as a landmark project in the national pilot zone for ecological conservation. The next move is to meet the goal of banning the sale of fuel vehicles by 2030 by promoting the medium- and long-term action plan for the development of the new energy vehicles; expand green and low-carbon practices by developing new energy vehicles, build a zero-carbon demonstration area in Boao Dongyu Island, and create high-level commercial application scenarios for smart and internet-connected vehicles on the round-the-island tourism road; promote the integrated development of the industrial chain as a whole; expand open cooperation by leveraging the functional advantages of the free trade port; and create an enabling business environment for the development of new energy vehicles to invite global investors to invest in Hainan and share the development opportunities and achievements of the free trade port.
In his speech, Yin Yong said that new energy vehicles are the symbolic and leading products of the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation. Beijing has regarded the development of new energy vehicles as a choice with strategic importance for building an economic structure featuring high-end, precision and cutting-edge industries and an important measure to achieve carbon peak and neutrality. It has sped up efforts to build a global pacesetter for technological innovation and industrial development of new energy vehicles. We will strengthen the overall planning and enhance the capacity of technological support and industrial development with the support of breakthroughs in new energy core technologies; give play to the leading role of major projects, strengthen the industrial chain of smart and internet-connected vehicles, develop automobile brands with global competitiveness, and build a world-class pioneering place in innovation and industrial incubation base; leverage pilot policies, focus on the future development needs of the smart and internet-connected vehicles, plan and build the supporting system comprised of vehicles, roads, clouds, networks, and maps, and create a world-class environment for the development of the new energy vehicle industry.
Xin Guobin said that China has been committed to green, low-carbon, and sustainable development, valued the development of the new energy vehicle industry, and coordinated and strengthened the innovation, application and infrastructure of new energy vehicles, enabling the industry to achieve fruitful results. More policies will be issued to make vehicles electrified, internet-connected and smart, and promote the quality development of the automobile industry; further improve the development environment, ensure that well-performing automobile enterprises stand out in market competition, promote the development of supporting industries, and implement supporting policies; support collaborative innovation, encourage enterprises to increase R&D investment, and support the establishment of innovation systems that bring together enterprises, universities, research institutes, and end-users; keep the supply chain stable, support global enterprises to strengthen the division of labor and efficient coordination, promote the integration of different parts in the industrial chain, and advance the connectivity and efficient operation of resources and infrastructure; and deepen international cooperation and implement measures to open up the automobile industry.
WNEVC is the highest level and most influential annual conference in the field of new energy vehicles. Themed "Carbon Neutrality, Electric Mobility, Global Cooperation", this year’s congress has focused on topics including comprehensive electrification and green and low-carbon transformation, commercialization of hydrogen-fueled and fuel cell vehicles, and cross-industrial cooperation for a global coordinated supply chain. It has brought together politicians, businesspeople, scholars, and researchers around the world for in-depth discussions, and will form and release the consensus of the congress.
Achim Steiner, Administrator of the United Nations Development Program, and Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, delivered speeches online.
Officials from the relevant departments of the central government and the government of the Beijing Municipality attended the opening ceremony.
(Written by: Qi Mengzhu, Fan Junsheng)
