China.org.cn | April 19, 2023
CRNTT:
Since last year, the international energy supply and demand situation has been complex and severe, with energy security becoming a common concern for all. How do you view the energy security situation in China at present and in the future? What further steps will be taken to ensure China's energy security? Thank you.
Zhang Jianhua:
Thank you. In today's world, there are increasing unstable, uncertain and unpredictable factors that are constantly posing challenges to the stability of the global energy supply and industrial chains. Since last year, in the context of strained global energy supply, China has maintained stable energy supply in terms of quantity and price by continuously improving energy supply capacity and quality. As we embark on a new journey of building a modern socialist country in all respects, energy consumption will continue to grow. New energy has not had the capability to fully replace conventional energy sources, fossil fuels will continue to play a role in guaranteeing China's energy security, some energy technologies and equipment still have weakness to overcome, and extreme weather has had an increasingly significant impact on energy supply, bringing multiple pressures to energy security.
At the 20th CPC National Congress, energy was identified as a key area for national security and capacity building. Important arrangements have been made to promote energy revolution and ensure energy security. Next, we will take specific steps in four areas. First, we will take multiple measures to improve our energy supply capacity, including strengthening the construction of advanced coal production capacity, promoting the exploration and development of oil and gas resources, increasing the supply of clean energy, and advancing the building of energy reserve capacity. Second, we will promote the energy industrial chain to be more self-supporting with risks being better controlled, strengthen the research and development of key technologies, and shore up weak links in the industrial chain. Third, we will promote low-carbon transformation of the energy sector, build a new energy system, speed up the optimization of the energy structure, and work to increase the proportion of non-fossil energy in energy consumption. Fourth, we will strengthen prediction and early warnings for energy security risks and continue to formulate and implement relevant energy security plans, to ensure China's stable energy supply. Thank you.
Xing Huina:
The last two questions, please.