On the afternoon of November 5, 2026, the Parallel Session on “High-Quality Development of Hydrogen Accelerates Global Energy Transition” of the 9th HongQiao International Economic Forum (HQF), jointly hosted by the National Energy Administration (NEA) and the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, was held at Hall D1, Pavilion 4.2,  the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). SONG Hongkun, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Administrator of the NEA; Erwin Ramírez, Minister of Development, Industry and Commerce of the Republic of Nicaragua; FENG Laifa, Deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and General Manager of CHN Energy Investment Group Co., Ltd. (CHN Energy); and an official in charge of the China International Import Expo Bureau attended the Session and delivered remarks. Omar M. Yaghi, Laureate of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry; HUANG Weihe, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; and ZHENG Nanfeng, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, were among those who delivered keynote presentations.

In his remarks, SONG Hongkun noted that the world currently faces the combined pressures of ensuring energy security and advancing the low-carbon transition. Hydrogen is an important component of the future energy system and an important energy carrier for promoting the energy transition. The NEA is firmly implementing the new energy security strategy of “Four Revolutions and One Cooperation” and accelerating the development of a new energy system. It is promoting the sound, orderly and high-quality development of hydrogen through coordinated planning, innovation-driven development, measures tailored to local conditions, and openness and cooperation. To date, China has built more than 350,000 tonnes per year of production capacity for renewable hydrogen and more than 1.3 million tonnes per year of combined production capacity for green ammonia and green methanol. The 15th Five-Year Plan for Building a New Energy System sets a target for renewable hydrogen production to reach 2 million tonnes by 2030. The next five years will be a critical period for nurturing the hydrogen industry as it moves from pilot demonstrations toward large-scale, market-oriented development. The NEA will work with all parties to continue deepening exchanges and cooperation on hydrogen, actively foster new quality productive forces in the energy sector, and make hydrogen an important force in jointly building a clean and beautiful world.

The Session brought together representatives from governments of various countries and regions, energy enterprises, research institutions and industry associations. Participants held in-depth discussions on coordination and connectivity across the entire hydrogen value chain, hydrogen storage and transportation, innovation in key technologies, coordination on global standards, large-scale development of low-carbon hydrogen, practical experience in the green hydrogen industry, and international cooperation in the hydrogen industry. Participants generally agreed that hydrogen is clean, low-carbon, flexible and efficient, can work in close synergy with various energy sources, and provides important support for the global green energy transition. Going forward, they will continue to deepen global dialogue and cooperation on hydrogen, work together to nurture hydrogen as an industry of the future, promote its large-scale, market-oriented development, and jointly build an open and inclusive global hydrogen industry ecosystem based on mutually beneficial cooperation.

The Session featured the release of Typical Pilot Cases of Hydrogen and Green Fuels in China (2026) and the English edition of the China Hydrogen Development Report (2026), among other outcomes. These publications showcase and promote China’s experience and achievements in hydrogen development and help build greater industry consensus on hydrogen’s role in advancing the global energy transition and green development.

The Session was also attended by relevant officials from the NEA and the Ministry of Commerce; energy authorities in provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities including Inner Mongolia, Jilin, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Henan, Ningxia and Xinjiang; and local governments of regional hydrogen pilot areas including Baotou, Baicheng and Suzhou, as well as executives from centrally administered energy enterprises including CHN Energy, China Oil & Gas Pipeline Network Corporation (PipeChina), State Grid Corporation of China, China Huadian Corporation Ltd. and Dongfang Electric Corporation.