Skip to main content
European Commission logo
en
Energy

China

The EU and China share a common interest in accelerating the global clean energy transition. 

China both produces and uses more energy than any other country. Energy developments in China therefore have a big impact on global energy markets, as well as on the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere.

The EU’s energy cooperation with China focuses on accelerating the clean energy transition globally to ensure energy security, economic prosperity, and climate objectives. China's clean energy transition is a prerequisite to successfully implement the Paris Agreement and to provide their citizens with clean, sustainable and affordable energy.

The EU-China High-level Energy Dialogue

Since 1994, EU and Chinese officials have met at ministerial level for an annual High-Level Energy Dialogue. The dialogue forms the basis of the EU-China energy cooperation and broadly focuses on advancing the clean energy transition.

The last EU-China Energy Dialogue took place on 14 July 2025. The discussions broadly included accelerating the transition, ensuring energy security, enabling benefits of the transition, as well as energy market design.

The energy dialogue was deepened and intensified by the 2019 joint statement on the implementation of the EU-China cooperation, which followed the EU-China roadmap from 2016 and the 2018 joint statement on climate change and clean energy.

The 2020 energy dialogue covered clean energy policies, in the context of both parties’ efforts to overcome the economic crisis caused by COVID-19. Both the EU recovery plan and the European Green Deal were the primary topics, as well as China’s measures to stimulate clean energy development, and the shared responsibility to promote green energy investments in third countries.

Former Commissioner Simson and former Administrator Zhang also reviewed progress on the 2019 joint statement. As part of the review, the first 3 comparative reports were presented and submitted as key deliverables of joint efforts.

  • Comparative report on the electricity markets and systems in the EU and China (EN | CN)
  • Report on policies to support the construction of renewable energy generation capacity in the EU and China (EN | CN)
  • Report on policies to support the integration of variable renewables in the energy system of the EU and China (EN | CN)

Against the backdrop of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the 2022 energy dialogue addressed topics of common interest, such as energy security, the green energy transition and electricity market reforms. LNG, natural gas and oil markets featured prominently in discussions on energy security.

Policies and practices to accelerate the energy transition were at the core of exchanges with Chinese counterparts, and 3 joint reports on power market reforms, innovative energy solutions and energy efficiency were presented at the meeting.

EU-China Energy Cooperation Platform

The EU-China energy cooperation platform delivers on the specific objectives set out in the EU-China Energy Dialogue.

The platform is funded by the EU Partnership Instrument, which was designed to advance the EU’s strategic interests and tackle global challenges. It is jointly steered by the Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy and the Chinese National Energy Administration.

The platform gathers a wide array of energy players in China and the EU including relevant public authorities, energy associations, energy industry and businesses, as well as leading energy research institutes and thinks-tanks. Together, they provide thorough analysis of the benefits and challenges in the 4 priority areas in the joint statement from 2019.

The platform also creates opportunities for political and policy exchange as well as new business prospects for innovative companies in energy sector.

Presidents Juncker, Tusk, and Premier Li endorsed the implementation of the platform in the EU-China summit statement, 9 April 2019 and it was launched in Beijing on 15 May 2019.

Partnership on urbanisation

Over half of China's citizens currently live in urban areas, and this number is increasing. Through the EU-China partnership on urbanisation the EU works with China to promote clean, sustainable, and energy efficient cities.

The partnership encompasses forums, study trips, and training activities, as well as an annual meeting between the President of China and the Presidents of the European Commission and the European Council. While the partnership stretches across many economic and social sectors, the Commission acts as the overall coordinator for the EU.

In energy, the partnership works on topics such as promoting energy efficient buildings, researching energy technologies, and finding ways to integrate renewable energy into urban areas.