China emphasised energy cooperation during the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meetings held in Tianjin.

President Xi Jinping announced a significant investment plan to build 10gigawatts (GW) of solar power and 10GW of wind power across SCO member countries over the next five years.

This new commitment marks a substantial increase from the 1GW of solar and 0.3GW of wind power that China has invested in SCO nations since 2019.

Additionally, there was tacit support for the Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline, which could increase the share of Russian gas in China’s imports to a third by the 2030s.

Experts are now questioning how China’s energy investments will impact the energy transitions of SCO member states and whether its collaboration with Central Asian countries and Russia signifies a major shift in the global energy landscape.

Lauri Myllyvirta noted that China’s pledge to develop 10GW of wind and solar projects in SCO countries could represent a significant advancement in its overseas energy strategy.

While Chinese manufacturers have long dominated the global solar equipment has been used in projects lacking Chinese power companies to expand their influence beyond equipment exports and accelerate renewable energy deployment internationally, leveraging the expertise they have gained from scaling clean energy solutions domestically.

Currently, China’s role in overseas clean energy projects is mostly limited to bidding on projects that are already part of host countries energy plans.

The latest commitment could open up opportunities for deeper engagement with partner governments, fostering broader national energy planning that integrates renewable regeneration with storage, transmission, and manufacturing.

This shift would not only enhance the international standing of Chinese developers but also help partner countries elevate their renewable energy ambitions.