On June 22, the Secretariat of the Belt and Road Energy Partnership (BREP) convened the First Senior Officials’ Meeting in 2026 at the China Electric Power Planning & Engineering Institute (EPPEI), which serves as the Secretariat Office of the Partnership. Liu Deshun, General Engineer of National Energy Administration of China (NEA), attended the meeting and delivered opening remarks. Wei Xiaowei, Director General of the Department of International Cooperation of the NEA, chaired the meeting and delivered concluding remarks. Hu Ming, President of EPPEI, welcomed participants on behalf of the Secretariat Office.
In his remarks, Liu reviewed the Partnership’s achievements over the past seven years. He noted that BREP has grown into the largest and most active multilateral energy cooperation platform under the Belt and Road Initiative, with the largest membership, the broadest range of activities, and a growing portfolio of practical cooperation outcomes. Against the backdrop of an increasingly complex global energy landscape, he called on members to strengthen strategic coordination, and provide input on the Partnership’s 2026 priorities and preparations for the Fourth Belt and Road Energy Ministerial Conference, and develop practical initiatives that respond to members’ development needs and deliver tangible benefits.
Wei Xiaowei outlined the Secretariat’s priorities for the second half of 2026. These include establishing a regular mechanism for responding to members' cooperation needs, expanding information and knowledge sharing, and organizing training programs in areas such as energy planning, green electricity trading, and artificial intelligence applications in the energy sector through the Partnership’s cooperation network and working groups. She also invited member countries to actively participate in preparations for the Fourth Ministerial Conference, share recent progress in energy cooperation, and support preparations for the Second Senior Officials’ Meeting.
Hu Ming reviewed the work carried out by the Secretariat Office since its establishment in 2024, including supporting the Partnership’s overall planning, organizing flagship events, and strengthening platform operations. Looking ahead, he said the Secretariat Office will focus on preparations for the Fourth Ministerial Conference, further strengthen policy research and energy planning cooperation, continue producing high-quality research publications, and improve the Partnership’s operational framework by facilitating more effective connections between members’ cooperation needs and the technical capabilities of network partners.
During the meeting, the Secretariat presented a review of the Partnership’s work in the first half of 2026 and briefed participants on the proposed structure of the Governing Board, feedback from the BREP Survey on Cooperation Intentions and Needs, and preliminary arrangements for the Fourth Ministerial Conference. The Secretariat Office also reported on its recent activities and work plan, including country outreach and development assessments, as well as preparation of the Blue Paper on Green Energy Transition in Developing Countries, which is intended to support member countries in advancing their energy transition and enhancing their international visibility.
The lead organizations of the Partnership’s seven working groups—Green Energy, Connectivity (Electric Power), Oil and Gas, Smart Energy (Innovation), Green Finance, University (Youth), and International Communication—reported on their achievements since establishment and outlined their priorities for future work.
Representatives of member countries shared their views during the meeting. Participants spoke highly of the Partnership’s role in promoting practical energy cooperation and commended the Secretariat Office for its contribution to strengthening the Partnership’s institutional framework and supporting its effective operation. The Deputy Minister of Energy and Head of SATBA of Iran reaffirmed his country’s support for the Partnership as an important platform for project cooperation and capacity building and expressed the hope that the upcoming Ministerial Conference would deliver more practical initiatives to advance sustainable energy development. The Ambassador of Cuba to China also highlighted the Partnership’s contribution to supporting an equitable and sustainable energy future for developing countries.
More than 150 representatives participated in the meeting both in person and online, including officials from the energy authorities and diplomatic missions in China of 18 member countries, namely Algeria, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Cuba, Honduras, Cambodia, Kuwait, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Morocco, Sudan, Thailand, Türkiye, Venezuela, Hungary, and Iran. Representatives from the Shandong Provincial Energy Administration, the Qingdao Municipal Development and Reform Commission, and the lead organizations of the Partnership’s cooperation network working groups also attended. Representatives from EPPEI’s International Energy Consulting Institute participated in the meeting as members of the Secretariat Office.