On the morning of May 20, the 29th World Gas Conference (WGC 2025), hosted by the International Gas Union (IGU), opened in Beijing. Yin Li, Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, and Yin Yong, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Mayor of Beijing, attended the opening ceremony and jointly inaugurated the conference with Chinese and foreign guests.

Yin Yong pointed out that natural gas is a high-quality and efficient low-carbon energy, which plays a key role in the energy transition. In recent years, Beijing has actively implemented national energy strategies by improving its energy mix and expanding natural gas consumption. The city has established a sophisticated, multi-source gas supply system, significantly bolstering its economic and social development. At present, Beijing is accelerating transformation into a global pacesetter in the green economy. The city will consolidate the foundation for a secure and stable natural gas supply and build a clean, safe, and efficient energy system. Moreover, it will explore new pathways for diversified energy optimization, expand the adoption of green electricity, and facilitate the high-quality integration of natural gas with new energy. To better support the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, Beijing will further advance the green transition in the natural gas industry. The city will also expedite technological breakthroughs in critical fields and promote the integration of natural gas with new technologies such as AI and big data, fueling high-quality growth of the gas sector. He called on all participants to leverage this opportunity to share insights, showcase achievements, and foster cooperation, jointly seizing the new opportunities in the energy transition to write a new chapter for green development.

At the opening ceremony, Li Yalan, President of IGU; Wan Jinsong, Vice Administrator of the National Energy Administration; Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TotalEnergies; and Dai Houliang, Chairman of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), delivered speeches. As one of IGU’s three flagship conferences, WGC is the longest-standing international gathering in the global gas industry. This year marks its inaugural edition in China. Themed “Energising a Sustainable Future”, WGC 2025 attracted over 3,000 delegates from more than 70 countries and featured exhibitions by over 200 leading enterprises.

Ekperikpe Ekpo, Nigeria’s Minister of State (Gas), Petroleum Resources; Jin Liqun, President and Chair of the Board of Directors of Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB); Li Xiaolong, Vice Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development; Zhou Xinhuai, President of China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC); He Zhongwen, President of China Oil & Gas Pipeline Network Corporation (PipeChina); Beijing municipal leaders Xia Linmao and Zhao Lei; and Zeng Jin, Secretary-General of Beijing Municipal Government, attended the conference.