Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged rapid planning and construction of a new energy system to safeguard national energy security. The call comes as the Iran war triggers global energy shocks, highlighting the need for diversification. Hydropower, ecological protection, and orderly nuclear power expansion are key priorities for China’s energy strategy.
Xi emphasized the importance of balancing coal with renewable energy, stating that coal remains the foundation while wind, solar, and nuclear support sustainability. China leads globally in coal-fired capacity but continues to expand clean energy to meet low-carbon development goals. Analysts say China is relatively insulated from oil price volatility due to its coal dominance and limited reliance on Strait of Hormuz imports.
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The president highlighted that a greener, more resilient energy system strengthens economic stability and security. State broadcaster CCTV reported that Xi stressed forward-looking energy policies, aiming for a diversified, low-carbon system capable of withstanding international crises. These remarks underscore China’s long-term energy planning amid geopolitical instability.
China is already advancing major projects, including the world’s largest hydropower dam on the eastern Tibetan Plateau and a high-altitude solar thermal plant by China General Nuclear Power Group. These initiatives reflect a dual strategy of maintaining reliable coal power while investing heavily in renewables and nuclear energy infrastructure.
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Although Xi did not explicitly mention the Middle East conflict, his remarks come amid ongoing US-Iran tensions and a Pakistani-brokered ceasefire plan. Energy security remains central to China’s national strategy, reinforcing the country’s commitment to clean, diversified, and resilient energy systems in a volatile global market.