Highlight- Why is Hydropower one of China’s “Business Cards” ?

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As environmental issues continue to reduce the well-being of humanity, countries are exerting utmost efforts to save our planet as well as to improve living conditions of their own citizens.

China, as the world’s second largest economy, is dedicated to protecting its environment by promoting renewable energy in all its forms.

In China’s traditional philosophy, going back millennia, the ideal is to pursue balance between human beings and the environment.

China states that the rapid development of hydropower reflects that same pursuit. At present, the world is facing global warming and declining biodiversity.

In order to ameliorate such problems, countries are focusing on renewable energy. Since China’s hydropower leads the world, China has an opportunity — indeed an obligation — to help other developing countries. How does this work?

Zhou Jianping, Chief Engineer of the Power Construction Corporation of China, offers two advantages to explain why hydropower has flourished in China.

The first is the entire, integrated industry-chain capabilities – from planning, research, survey and design, to investment, operational maintenance and skills-training.

China can provide comprehensive services covering the whole industry chain, as well as financial resources to construct hydropower projects.

Hydroelectric power station at Three Gorges Dam, Hubei Province. VCG/·Photo

Zhou Jianping says in general, Chinese infrastructure proposals have garnered wide recognition, especially among developing countries.

For instance, through the Belt and Road initiative, China has promoted cooperation, co-construction, and the “Five Connections,” which refers to policy coordination, infrastructure connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people interactions.

As a result, Chinese enterprises have forged deep business relationships with developing countries along Belt & Road initiative routes.

Then, China can better help developing countries upgrade their hydropower industries. With various hydropower projects in operation internationally, hydropower has become one of China’s business cards.

One case is ‘South-South Cooperation’: China-Indonesia Seminar on Small Hydropower International Cooperation and National Capacity Building.

It was successfully conducted in Jakarta on 7-8th of May 2018. At the seminar, representatives from the China’s International Center on Small Hydro Power (ICSHP) introduced the policies and experiences of small hydropower development in China and various activities that were carried out.

Therefore, this seminar has laid a good foundation for China to further help Indonesia boost its hydropower industry.

Another good case is the 8th Hydropower for Today Forum which was completed on 6-7th of November, 2018 in Lusaka, Zambia. Totally, over 150 participants from Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America attended the forum.

During the forum, the training seminar on small hydropower development for Africa which was co-organized by Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and China’s International Center on Small Hydro Power, was held specifically for Zambian hydropower technicians and managing staffs.