The First "China Energy Forum" Co-Hosted by CAE and NEA Held in Beijing

On November 18-19, 2010, the first China Energy Forum was held in Beijing. The forum was themed on Scientific and Technological Innovation Promotes Sustainable Energy Development in China , co-hosted by CAE (Chinese Academy of Engineering) and NEA (National Energy Administration), undertaken by five organizations such as the Energy and Mining Engineering Academic Division of CAE, Drilling Technology Research Institute (DRI) of China National Petroleum Cooperation (CNPC), Oil and Gas Drilling Technology National Engineering Laboratory, co-sponsored by eight enterprises such as China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), China Petro-chemical Group (Sinopec Group), China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), State Grid Corporation of China, Shenhua Group Corporation Limited, China Coal Energy Company Limited, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and Zhong Ping Energy Chemical Group.

The forum was also supported vigorously by thirteen ministries and commission in China such as the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Envi-ronmental Protection.

CAE Member Xu Kuangdi, Vice Chairman of the Tenth CPPCC National Committee, also former President of the CAE, together with CAE President Zhou Ji attended and addressed the opening ceremony. The forum was attended by a total of more than 600 people, including Mr. Xie Kechang, Vice President of CAE, Mr.

Du Xiangwan, former Vice President of CAE, Mr. Wu Guihui, Chief Engineer of NEA, Mr. Qi Rang, Vice Chairman of China Association of Science and Technology, Mr. Wang Yeping, Vice Chairman of the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC), Mr. Cao Yaohui, Deputy General Manager of Sinopec Group, and other leaders of relevant ministries, commissions and enterprises, 56 Members of either CAE or CAS (Chinese Academy of Sciences), specialists, scholars and research personnel in the field of energy in China, as well as representatives from various businesses.

CAE President Zhou said in his address that energy is the basic driving force for economic growth and social development, without which human survival couldn t be guaranteed due to lack of material basis. Chinese Communist Party and the nation have always attached great importance to the development of energy industry.

Since the founding of New China, China s energy industry has made remarkable achievements that attracted world-wide attention, which has provided a strong dynamic support for the construction of modernization of our nation. But we also need to keep a clear mind about the fact that in the new era, energy is still an important issue to be tackled as soon as possible in order to accelerate the transformation of the mode of economic growth and achieve scientific development, and the fundamental way to solve the energy problem lies in scientific and technological innovation.

This forum aims to give full play to the wisdom of CAE and CAS Members, together with experts in this field, offering advice and suggestions centered on the forefront issues in the area of energy development, making due contributions for the promotion of scientific and technological innovation and sustainable development of energy industry in China, as well as the acceleration of the transformation of economic growth mode in China.

Mr. Xu Kuangdi, Vice Chairman of the Tenth CPPCC National Committee and former President of CAE, illustrated the significant roles energy had been playing in the different phases of human development from the perspective of historical development. Xu pointed out that the new path of industrialization and new energy strategy, both with Chinese characteristics, must reflect the scientific outlook on development.

As a matter of fact, China cannot and shouldn t follow the old path of economic development for those developed countries in the last century. Instead, China should rely on the steady progress of energy technology to support the sustained economic and social growth. Xu also said in his speech, that scientific and technological innovation promotes China s sustainable economic development is a proposition that requires the huge number of S&T personnel in China to accomplish.

Xu expressed his hope that the forum should contribute to the advancement of energy science and technology in China.

Mr. Wu Guihui, Chief Engineer of NEA, together with academicians or specialists Du Xiangwan, Xie Kechang, Ni Weidou, Huang Qili, Xie Heping, Jin Qinghuan gave keynote speeches at the forum. They illustrated, from their professional point of view, the importance of strengthening energy industry in China, as well as the specific measures and proposals for the implementation of energy strategy, which were quite warmly received by the audience and aroused heated discussion among them.

The forum was divided into 6 sub-forums, based upon the different professional fields of the participants, which were oil and gas, coal, nuclear energy, electric power, renewable energy, energy conservation and emission reduction, as well as policy management. On the two-day forum, a total of 27 academicians (either with CAE or CAS), along with 64 specialists gave a total of 91 presentations.

Participants centered their discussion and investigation on China s sustainable energy development and effective utilization of energy, who also made concrete proposals regarding these topics, showing the significant function and meaning of scientific and technological innovation.

This forum collected a total of 205 papers, published a proceeding (of 2.2 million words) and aroused intense repercussions in the society, thus turned out to be a great success. (By Wang Aihong, December 2010; translated by Liu Chang)