Chongqing - As the global push toward carbon neutrality intensifies, Southeast Asian experts seek to deepen partnerships with China to accelerate clean energy development and low-carbon transitions.
In an interview with Bridging News during the International Forum on Regional Cooperation for Sustainable Development of Green Mountains—held from July 10 to 15 in Chengdu and Chongqing—delegates from Vietnam and Thailand highlighted the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as a key platform for advancing sustainable innovation across Asia.
The forum attracted over 200 participants, including 12 international delegates from ASEAN countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar. Discussions centered on clean energy technology, green finance, digital energy systems, and regional collaboration. Delegates also toured Chongqing's leading green enterprises, including Sanfeng Environment, New Century Electric, and HaiRun Energy. By the end of the forum, 15 preliminary international collaborations were announced, spanning solar investment, knowledge exchange, and sustainable development training.
ASEAN delegates toured Chongqing's leading green enterprises. (Photo/Chongqing Renewable Energy Society)
Lim Chor Ghee, senior advisor of ADK Law Firm in Vietnam, highlighted the growing waste crisis in his country, where urban solid waste is increasing by 10–16% annually. Having lived in Vietnam for two decades, Lim is no stranger to the complexities of urban growth and the urgent need for sustainable waste solutions.
After visiting Sanfeng Environment's waste-to-energy facility in Chongqing, Lim admired what he called a "park, not a plant," describing the site's cleanliness, green landscaping, and complete absence of odor. "It was a surprise," he said. "This is exactly the kind of infrastructure our rapidly expanding cities in Vietnam urgently need."
He noted that China's advanced waste incineration technologies could serve as a blueprint for Vietnam, provided institutional cooperation supports the integration of supply chains and local regulations. "What Chongqing has achieved in transforming urban waste into energy is inspiring and replicable," he added.
The International Forum on Regional Cooperation for Sustainable Development of Green Mountains was held in Chengdu and Chongqing from July 10 to 15. (Photo/Chongqing Renewable Energy Society)
Dr. Subin Pinkayan, founder of GMS Power in Thailand and an energy visionary, drew on decades of engineering, academic and political experience at the forum. In Chongqing, he met with local partner Chongqing Tianhua New Energy Company to discuss manufacturing next-generation solar cells in Thailand—technology he says could slash production costs by 20%, a potential game-changer for ASEAN nations pursuing affordable renewables.
“China has everything—technology, capital, talent. Thailand can be a bridge, a launchpad to bring Chinese green innovation to the entire ASEAN region,” Dr. Subin said, praising Chongqing as a clean-energy trailblazer and calling for an ASEAN power-trading platform with China at its core.
A two-time visitor to Chongqing, he lauded the city’s dynamism and its proximity to Thailand—a mere four-hour flight away—making it an ideal strategic partner. “We want a win-win partnership. Fair and equal collaboration is key to real progress,” he emphasized.
Both Dr. Subin and his fellow speaker Lim identified financing and policy alignment as major hurdles for ASEAN’s green transition. Lim underscored the need for equitable development so that green-growth benefits reach all sectors of society, not just elites. Dr. Subin echoed those sentiments, advocating regionally integrated energy infrastructure and open access to China’s cutting-edge technologies.
Through site visits, candid exchanges and deepening trust, the forum illustrated how China’s green industry is evolving from technology exporter into co-creator of sustainable ecosystems. As the Belt and Road Initiative shifts from hard infrastructure to climate-smart collaboration, ASEAN voices are increasingly aligned with China’s green vision—not only for innovation, but for shared prosperity across Asia.
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