China takes lead in global green transition efforts: U.N. official

China is making significant strides in green energy transition, emerging as a global leader boasting one-third of the world's installed capacity for solar and wind power, according to Beate Trankmann, Resident Representative for China at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

In a recent interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) in Beijing, Trankmann praised China's green transition efforts and highlighted areas where the country could make further progress.

"China is already actually a leader in green energy. One third of solar and wind power installed capacity in the world is right here in China. I think one area is, for example, going forward to see how more renewable energy can actually be fed into the grid. [China's] green energy generation capacity is already over 50 percent, but energy output is at 30 percent. So that points to issues in grid infrastructure, in storage capacities, but also in market regulations. And I think that's an area where China can do more work," said Trankmann.

The newly installed capacity of renewable energy in 2024 accounted for 86 percent of China's total newly installed power capacity, while the cumulative installed capacity of renewable energy made up a record high of 56 percent of the nation's total in the year, according to data from the National Energy Administration (NEA).

Last year was the second year that China's cumulative installed capacity of renewable energy power generation exceeded 50 percent of the country's total installed capacity.

Trankmann also underscored that as China pushes forward with its green transformation, the UNDP is working to ensure that emerging technologies, like hydrogen fuel cells, are accessible to all.

"In particular, from UNDP's perspective, again, what we are looking at is that these types of technologies that we can make sure [is] that everyone has access [to] and benefits from them, so that their application doesn't actually exacerbate existing divides or even create new fault lines. One example of the type of work that we're doing in that area is working with two vocational educational colleges in Foshan and in Changshu - for [cultivating] hydrogen fuel cell engineers. And that's actually the first dedicated program for the hydrogen economy and hydrogen engineers in China. And 30 percent of these students are women," said Trankmann.

China takes lead in global green transition efforts: U.N. official

Myanmar's government is coordinating all departments to work together to save lives during the critical 72-hour rescue window, amid what an official on Sunday described as a "very chaotic condition" following the devastating earthquake.

The rescue work after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck the southeast Asian country at around 12:50 local time (06:20 GMT) on Friday currently faces great difficulties, according to Min Min Thein, director general of the Department of Rehabilitation under the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement.

"Because of the strong nature of the earthquake, some of the basement floors collapsed down and some people are trapped in these areas. So we are identifying these people -- where are the missing people, where are the trapped people. The fire safety department, and also the military personnel, and also other representatives from different ministries, are working together to save the lives of the victims as much as we can. At the time, we also have some kind of damage in some of the hospitals, so it is a very chaotic condition at this moment. However, we are trying to manage as much as we can, and also these fire safety departments are working 24 hours these days to catch up the 'golden hours' -- 72 hours. And also, we are also arranging for the emergency shelters and also food and water assistance," he said.

Min Min Thein expressed the government's gratitude to the rescue teams rushing to the quake-hit areas from various countries, emphasizing that China's immediate response in dispatching experienced rescue teams demonstrates the friendship between China and Myanmar.

"So the first international [team] arriving is a Chinese rescue team, and then later followed by other teams. So such kind of experienced team, and also experienced with equipment, are coming together, expressing friendship between China and Myanmar," said the official.

Myanmar making every effort to save lives in "very chaotic condition" after deadly earthquake: official