IEA and China’s NDRC sign Memorandum of Understanding on energy efficiency collaboration

The International Energy Agency and the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of the People’s Republic of China have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on energy efficiency collaboration.

Mr Zhang Yong, Vice Chairman of the NDRC, and Dr Fatih Birol, the IEA’s Executive Director signed the agreement at the IEA headquarters in Paris today.

The agreement sets out a strong framework for collaboration on activities and projects to accelerate progress on energy efficiency, both in China and around the world. The IEA and the NDRC look forward to collaborating on policy dialogue, joint research, data sharing and capacity building activities. 

The agreement comes at a critical moment in the global efforts to rein in carbon emissions. Analysis from the IEA has long underscored the importance of energy efficiency in clean energy transitions, as well as China’s central role in the global energy debate.

China has made strong progress on energy efficiency in recent years, and has led energy intensity improvements globally. Given the importance that China has attached to energy efficiency under NDRC’s leadership, the IEA is looking forward to working with Chinese institutions and providing a platform for China’s engagement on energy efficiency, as well as sharing its successful experiences in this field.

As part of its modernisation strategy, the IEA has been opening its doors to emerging economies and establishing itself as a clean energy hub, particularly on energy efficiency. Deepening the IEA’s collaboration with China marks another important step towards that goal.