By Wu Xinru, Xue Lingqiao and Liu Muqi
News Lounge, the flagship program of China News Service, welcomed its first group of international guests since its overseas debut in Türkiye on Tuesday on the sidelines of COP31 in Antalya.
Themed Ecological Civilization and Beautiful China Practice and held at China Pavilion, the side event was jointly hosted by the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization and China News Service, with the Policy Research Center for Environment and Economy of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and China News Network serving as co-organizers.
At the event, Huang Runqiu, minister of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, delivered remarks. Li Gao, head of the Chinese Delegation to COP31, vice minister of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, presided over the speech session. Hu Jun, director general of Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization and Policy Research Center for Environment and Economy of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and Yu Lan, deputy editor-in-chief of China News Service and president of China News Network, attended the event.
The international guests included Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; Chris Bowen, COP31 President of Negotiations, Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy; and Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency.
Drawing on their professional expertise, the international guests shared perspectives on global climate governance and discussed opportunities stemming from China's green transition.
The scene was marked by dynamic exchanges across borders and disciplines. Participants agreed that global climate governance requires multilateral cooperation, and China's ongoing ecological and energy transition offers actionable lessons for the world.
China's contribution to global climate governance
Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the UNFCCC, spoke highly of China's practical green transition efforts, saying China's energy transition achievements are "like nowhere else on Earth."
Stiell said China has long been a firm friend of multilateralism and consistently engaged across the UN's broader agenda, notably UN Climate Change work, giving strong impetus to the steady advancement of global climate governance.
He observed that "China's South-South cooperation has also supported the transition to clean energy and climate resilience in many developing countries." China's domestic energy transition has also spurred innovation and driven lower costs across the globe.
He singled out China's commitment to strive for enhanced outcomes beyond its updated nationally determined contribution (NDC). To him, this shows great wisdom and foresight.
Stewart Maginnis, deputy director-general of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, shared his views on China's efforts to build an ecological civilization. From his observations, what truly impressed him about China's ecological civilization is not merely a green agenda, but a strategic choice and a fundamental asset of coexistence.
"People can prosper without undermining the ecosystems that sustain them," Maginnis said, adding that environmental protection and economic development need not compete in China.
Maginnis also praised China's efforts in carrying out pioneering ecological work. China's ecological restoration work covers not only forests, but also rivers and wetlands. It goes beyond tree planting to removing pressures that prevent ecosystems from effectively functioning, he said.
Economic opportunities in green and low-carbon development
Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) took notice of the trend of electrification and said it is expanding to more areas in the world. He spoke highly of China's pioneering efforts in energy transition, noting that China has achieved remarkable progress in electric vehicles, renewable energy and battery storage, and boasts competitive industrial chains covering hydropower, solar, wind power, energy storage and clean fuels.
During his visit to China in September 2026, he held discussions with relevant Chinese authorities and visited Tsinghua University. He was deeply impressed by China's vibrant innovation momentum.
"The world is entering the electric age," Birol stated, adding that advancing electrification brings multiple benefits: it boosts economic growth and safeguards energy security, while helping tackle climate change and improve air quality. China's role in clean energy is indisputable and it has shown the way for the world. He called on all countries to build consensus and jointly set targets for electrification.
Beneath the electrification wave, the scale and cost of renewable energy supply remain a key market focus.
Chris Bowen, president of negotiations for COP31, highly recognized China's key role in the global renewable energy transition. He also agreed that accelerating the renewable energy transition and electrification is the way forward in the face of increasing living costs driven up by the energy crisis, fossil fuel reliance and rising power demand from artificial intelligence.
Citing the IEA's Renewables 2025 report, he said global renewable energy capacity will expand by 4,600 gigawatts between 2025 and 2030, with China standing pivotal thanks to its scale and influence. Bowen stated that China's sustained investment in renewables and efforts to bring down solar and battery costs "support its own deep decarbonization while delivering benefits across the globe."
Laura Clarke, chief executive officer of ClientEarth said that China in recent years has witnessed a remarkable green transition, becoming a global leader in green technology. Meanwhile, she also pointed out that China's ambitions for ecological civilization and Beautiful China also have major global implications.
"China is also showing the major economic opportunities in green and low-carbon sectors," commended Clarke. Additionally, Clarke noticed that the country is increasing partnerships with other countries, which will help advance the global green transition.
A people-centred just transition
As green technologies gain industrial momentum, their impacts on people's daily lives and human health also merit attention.
Barbara Vrede, global head of Social Impact and Sustainability Strategy, Novartis, said human health and planetary health are closely linked. China is a key country where Novartis translates its global sustainability ambitions into local action.
Vrede highlighted Novartis' Sichuan Forestry Carbon Sink, Community and Biodiversity Project, launched in 2010. The project has established nearly 4,000 hectares of forest and planted approximately 21 million trees, benefiting more than 4,200 households and over 18,000 residents while generating approximately 40 million yuan in labor income for local communities. "This experience has shown us that environmental action can create ecological, social and economic value," Vrede said.
She expressed Novartis' willingness to deepen cooperation with partners in China on ecological restoration, biodiversity protection and sustainable community development, contributing to a healthier and more sustainable future for people and the planet.
Yamide Dagnet, senior vice president, international, at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), described COP31 as an "implementation and transition COP," emphasizing the need to translate climate commitments into concrete action. She stressed that climate action must put people at the center, improve lives, create opportunities and bring local communities along in the green transition.
Dagnet said the concept of a just transition aligns with the essence of China's ecological civilization. Renewable energy can not only support the energy transition but also drive economic growth and shared prosperity.
She expressed hope that China's green transition experience could offer useful insights to other countries through South-South cooperation, South-North cooperation and international exchanges, helping turn transition challenges into opportunities for shared prosperity and sustainable development.
Centered on climate issues, the dialogue leveraged international guests' on-the-ground observations and first-hand accounts, translating China's ecological progress into resonant narratives for a global audience.
Leveraging this event, News Lounge extended its reach to a major multilateral platform, marking a meaningful breakthrough in its international outreach.
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