May 21st, 2024

(From www.china.com) On May 8, 2024, the first International Electric Vehicle Industry Forum (I Foro Internacional sobre Movilidad Eléctrica) was convened in Mérida, capital of the Extremadura region in Spain. Xiao Wunan, Executive Vice Chairman of the Asia Pacific Exchange & Cooperation Foundation (APECF), led a delegation of Chinese enterprise representatives to the forum, including participants from Fujian Super Power New Energy Co., Ltd. and Ganfeng LiEnergy. During the same period, Chinese enterprises such as Tsingshan Holding Group and Huawei also participated in the forum. Participants engaged in constructive discussions and shared diverse perspectives on the current status and future development of new energy and electric vehicles, achieving fruitful outcomes from the meeting.

According to the organizers, the forum was co-hosted by the Extremadura region government and its Ministry of Investment, along with institutions such as Nihao Conecta (Spain). Nearly 100 government officials, new energy enterprises, and relevant scholars from the EU, Spain, and China attended the event. Guests including Ms. María Guardiola Martín, President of the Electric Enterprise Industry Community of the Extremadura region, Spain; Ms. Rebeca Mariola Torró Soler, Secretary-General of Spain’s Ministry of Industry; and Mr. Mark Nicklas, Head of Automotive, Mobility Industries of Decarbonisation, Mobility, Raw Materials at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, delivered important speeches at the forum. They spoke highly of China’s new energy technologies and expressed their readiness to offer full support in industrial chain matching, business environment, financial support, talent training, and other areas, welcoming Chinese enterprises to invest and set up factories in Spain. In his opening address, the President of the Extremadura region solemnly stated that Spain would serve as a "springboard" and "home" for China’s new energy sector to enter the EU, playing a significant role in this process. This marks a historic new chapter in the strategic cooperation between China and Spain in the field of new energy.

APECF Executive Vice Chairman Xiao Wunan stated: Against the backdrop of the robust development of China's new energy industry, the EU's strategy to prioritize electric vehicle development has found common ground with China's technological direction, forming a complementary trend. China has multiple advantages in new energy batteries, electric vehicles, and energy storage in terms of technology, pricing, and quality. However, to enter the EU market, it is essential to carefully study differences in market access policies, industrial environments, relevant laws, and cultural factors. Xiao Wunan added that in recent years, the APECF has repeatedly participated in in-depth research and international cooperation in China's new energy sector, focusing on addressing the pain points, demands, and bottlenecks of new energy enterprises. He believes that "going global" has become an inevitable trend. Spain has been committed to establishing strategic cooperation with China in new energy in recent years, and the successful holding of this forum marks a promising historic new phase in Sino-Spanish cooperation, building confidence for broader future collaboration with the EU.

Notably, during the forum, Fujian Super Power New Energy Co., Ltd. announced its plan to enter the Spanish market, which received high attention from the EU, the Spanish government, and the Extremadura regional government. This move also signifies an important step in China-Spain cooperation in the new energy sector.

During the forum, APECF Executive Vice Chairman Xiao Wunan was interviewed by multiple mainstream Spanish media outlets. He shared unique insights on leveraging Spain's strengths to expand the "going global" efforts of Chinese new energy enterprises, receiving extensive coverage and praise. It is believed that the successful holding of this forum will play a positive role in promoting the international deployment of Chinese new energy enterprises. "Opportunities and challenges coexist. If the right model can be explored, it will surely open up boundless development space," he said.