Indonesian experts call for dialogue in resolving South China Sea issues at Xiangshan Forum

Indonesian and Chinese security experts emphasized the critical role of dialogue in addressing South China Sea issues during the 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum which takes place in Beijing from Thursday to Saturday.

This year's forum has drawn unprecedented participation from over 100 countries and organizations.

Under the theme "Promoting Peace for a Shared Future," the event features key discussions on global security, regional stability, and innovative defense technologies.

In a session focused on Asia-Pacific security, experts shared their insights on various challenges.

On the Chinese side, Nie Songlai, a research fellow at the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Academy of Military Science, cautioned against the increasing involvement of NATO in Asia-Pacific affairs, highlighting the need for vigilance since such behavior will only have a destructive effect on the security of the region.

Experts from Indonesia emphasized the importance of dialogue among relevant parties to address the issues, noting that, given the complexity of the South China Sea situation, patience is essential in the pursuit of peace.

"You cannot expect that once you talk and have a dialogue, tomorrow the world will change. It takes time to build trust and confidence," said I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja, executive director of the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation.

"I think we have to at least try establishing the dialogue and continue and find a way out. But if we don't have any dialogue, and we don't trust each other even to talk, it's hopeless," said Jusuf Wanandi, co-founder of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Indonesia.

Indonesian experts call for dialogue in resolving South China Sea issues at Xiangshan Forum

China has made remarkable strides in energy development over the past 75 years, quickening its green, low-carbon transformation and continuously improving its energy utilization efficiency, a report from the National Bureau of Statistics showed on Thursday.

In 2023, China's total primary energy output was 4.83 billion tonnes of standard coal, a 202.6-fold increase from 1949, growing at an average annual rate of 7.4 percent.

The power production capacity has been continuously enhanced, with electricity generation rising from 4.3 billion kWh in 1949 to 9.5 trillion kWh in 2023, representing an average annual growth rate of 11 percent.

China's share of clean power has increased, with hydropower, nuclear, wind and solar power generation and other clean power generation increasing from 44.6 billion kWh in 1978 to 3.2 trillion kWh in 2023, at an average annual growth rate of 10 percent. The proportion of clean energy in the country' s total power generation expanded from 17.4 percent to 33.7 percent during the period.

China's energy consumption has seen steady growth over the past 75 years. In 1953, the country's total energy consumption was just 50 million tonnes of standard coal. The figure rose to 5.72 billion tonnes of standard coal in 2023, representing an average annual growth rate of 6.9 percent.

Energy consumption per capita has also significantly improved. In 1953, China's per capita energy consumption was only 93 kg of standard coal. In 2023, it reached 4,053 kg, an increase of 42.6 times compared to 1953, with an average annual growth rate of 5.5 percent.

China makes strides in energy development over past 75 years