Red Star News:

A key report delivered at the opening session of the 20th CPC National Congress proposed that China should foster a world-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based and internationalized. The guideline for improving "getting electricity" services and continuing to optimize the electricity business environment, which was deliberated and adopted by an executive meeting of the State Council, has been implemented for nearly three years. Can you brief us on the achievements of the related work and the focus of the next phase of work?

Liu Deshun:

Thank you for the question. Optimizing the electricity business environment is an important part of fostering a world-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based and internationalized. In recent years, the NEA has led the effort to fully implement the main objectives and tasks of the guideline by organizing energy authorities and electric power enterprises in all localities. After nearly three years of efforts, improved services have been implemented nationwide. Household users and low-voltage small and micro businesses no longer require house calls, examinations, approvals or investments for electric power usage applications. High-voltage electricity users now experience more convenient, time-saving and economical application processes. Remarkable progress has been made in the following five areas: First, household power users and low-voltage small and micro businesses (160 kilowatts and below) are no longer required to pay for electricity use applications. This marks another milestone in our country's history of electric power development, following the achievement of nationwide electricity access in 2015 and the provision of dynamic electricity to all villages across the country in 2020. Second, an internet-based electricity service system has been implemented across 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government. This has formed a new model of electricity service that is based on information, networks, and intelligence. Internet electricity services are now accessible to everyone. Gradually, electricity services based on face scanning and providing a unified social credit code have become popular. As a result, enterprises and household users can easily access electricity services without having to go out and deal with the procedures. Third, historical breakthroughs have been made in addressing the difficulties and obstacles in accessing high-voltage electricity services. The connectivity between examination and approval management systems for government construction projects and the electric service systems of power supply enterprises has been essentially realized in all localities. Many innovative experiences have emerged, allowing power supply enterprises to acquire electricity demand in advance and thus provide proactive services. High-voltage electricity services are rapidly transforming from "projects waiting for electricity" to "electricity waiting for projects." Fourth, improved "getting electricity" services have profoundly changed the relationship between power supply enterprises and users. People's sense of gain and experiences now serve as the best criteria for evaluating power supply services. Power supply enterprises have evolved from being traditional single power suppliers to service providers of "getting electricity" access for the users. The general public has transitioned from being just electricity users to beneficiaries, overseers and promoters of improved "getting electricity" services. Fifth, the capacity of the electric power supply has improved significantly. The duration and frequency of power outrages have continued to decrease in various regions. Power supply reliability in some cities, such as Shenzhen, has reached world-class levels. 

For the next step, the NEA will further improve its service for "getting electricity" with a focus on the following three aspects of work. First, we will promote access to electricity through facial recognition and one integrated license, as well as synchronously publicize relevant policies and service standards; maintenance, repair, and power transmission arrangements; and information on the energy regulatory hotline, 12398, and the power supply service hotline, 95598, on a regular basis and in a standardized and institutionalized manner. Second, we will step up efforts to promote typical practices to help the high-voltage power supply sector achieve IT application-based, Internet-based and smart development. Third, we will guide all localities to improve the working mechanism which features government-enterprise coordination in electricity supply services, give full play to the leading role of local energy (power) departments and the main role of power supply enterprises, and work together to solve problems and weak links so as to constantly improve residents and businesses' sense of gain and experience in getting electricity. Thank you.

Kyodo News:

On March 21, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a joint statement, saying that the two sides will work together to promote research and consultations on a new China-Mongolia-Russia natural gas pipeline project. What is the progress of the negotiation on the Power of Siberia 2 natural gas pipeline project? Does China plan to expand the import of energy from Russia? Thank you.

Zhang Jianhua:

During President Xi Jinping's state visit to Russia in March, the two sides jointly signed the Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation on Deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Coordination for the New Era. In the statement, the two sides stated that they would work together to promote research and consultations on a new China-Mongolia-Russia natural gas pipeline project. As energy cooperation is an important cornerstone of pragmatic cooperation between the two countries, both sides will build a closer energy partnership, support enterprises from both sides in promoting energy cooperation projects, maintain the stability of industrial chains and supply chains of energy products, and jointly make contributions to the long-term, sound, and stable development of the global energy market. At present, enterprises from both sides are carrying out exchanges and consultations regarding the new natural gas pipeline project. China will continue to support enterprises to conduct research and consultations in accordance with commercial principles. Thank you.