As the rotating chair of APEC in 2026, China put forward three priority directions, AI+energy+Asia-Pacific energy collaborative governance, opening a new chapter in regional energy cooperation. The 66th APEC Expert Group on Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EGEEC 66) was held from March 30 to April 2, 2026, in Bangkok, Thailand. Entrusted by the National Energy Administration, Research Fellow Liu Meng and Associate Research Fellow Liu Ren from CNIS, represented China in fulfilling the duties of the chair and the secretariat. During the meeting, they actively advanced discussions on regional standards coordination and AI, demonstrating Chinas leadership in the energy sector.

Building on the role of the chair to facilitate global governance
Focusing on the three priority directions, China has deeply explored the strategic significance of standardization and artificial intelligence for the regions green recovery. Liu Meng, serving as Chair of the EGEEC, presided over the meeting. He emphasized that standardization is a key tool for supporting the low-carbon transformation of industrial chains and eliminating green trade barriers, and AI is the optimal pathway to improve energy efficiency. The AI+standardization+ approach is expected to advance energy efficiency improvements in the Asia-Pacific region and facilitate APECS energy goals, which has received positive responses from the participating economies.

Focusing on key areas and contributing Chinas solutions
The Chinese delegation systematically shared Chinas innovative practices under the guidance of the carbon peak and neutrality goals, including large-scale equipment upgrades, standardization construction, and AI application to improve energy efficiency, with emphasis on advancing energy efficiency projects such as the Promotion of the Deployment of High-efficiency Low-carbon Room Air Conditioners (RACs) in the APEC Region. In response to the sharp increase in air conditioning energy consumption driven by rising temperatures in the region, the delegation shared Chinas advanced experience in Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and energy efficiency labeling systems. By promoting cross-economy policy incentives, standards alignment, and the sharing of best practices, China provided practical solutions to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the region.

Deepening multilateral cooperation to build a green future
China successfully facilitated the official inclusion of the Energy Efficiency Hub (EE Hub) in the EGEEC as a guest member, further expanding the EGEECs cooperation network with international organizations. The Chinese delegation also engaged in in-depth exchanges with international organizations such as the IEA and CLASP to explore the establishment of long-term mechanisms for technology sharing. Liu Meng noted that China will continue to uphold an open and win-win attitude, actively participating in global energy governance through the APEC platform, showcasing the results of Chinas green technology implementation, and contributing to the green energy transition in the Asia-Pacific region.