ECECDC Chairman and Former Prime Minister of Spain Zapatero Holds Talks with Song Hailiang, Party Secretary and Chairman of Energy China

On 18 October 2024 (local time), Mr. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Chairman of the Europe-China Economic Cooperation and Development Council (ECECDC) and former Prime Minister of Spain, held talks in Madrid with Mr. Song Hailiang, Party Secretary and Chairman of China Energy Engineering Group (Energy China). The two sides conducted in-depth exchanges on jointly advancing global connectivity, strengthening clean energy development, building new-type power systems, and establishing joint technology innovation centers, among other areas of pragmatic cooperation. The discussions aimed to support the stable and sound development of the China–EU comprehensive strategic partnership and to contribute wisdom and strength to the global green and low-carbon energy transition.

Mr. Zapatero expressed appreciation for Energy China’s contributions to China–Spain economic and trade relations and to the development of the green and low-carbon energy sector. He noted that Europe–China relations are vital to world peace and stability. As a close friend of China within the European Union and an important cooperation partner, Spain firmly supports openness and free trade and actively promotes mutually beneficial and win-win development between the two countries. He emphasized that ECECDC will continue to play its role as a bridge, promoting sustained exchanges and cooperation between European stakeholders and China. The Council will also actively support Chinese enterprises, including Energy China, in expanding their competitive industries in Europe, working together to make greater contributions to addressing global climate change and advancing the green energy transition.