Youth Leaders and Experts Convene in Shenzhen to Discuss Asia-Pacific Green Energy Ties

SHENZHEN — Youth leaders from 13 Asia-Pacific countries and regions convened in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, on August 21 for the 'Asia-Pacific Youth Gathering: Building a Shared Future Through Energy' event. The gathering brought together over 60 experts, scholars, young delegates, and journalists to discuss regional green energy cooperation and industrial transformation.

The event was co-hosted by the China International Publishing Center, CSG Shenzhen Power Supply Bureau, and CSG Digital Media Technology. It received support from partners including the Shenzhen Youth Federation and the APEC Sustainable Energy Center.

As part of the program, youth representatives visited the 110 kV Chunhui Substation, noted as the country's first zero-carbon smart educational substation, and the HQB Museum. These site visits provided participants with on-site insights into Shenzhen's green energy layout and industrial transformation efforts.

The gathering featured story-sharing sessions and roundtable discussions centered on green and low-carbon transitions, regional connectivity, and the coordinated development of electricity and computing power.

Chhoeun Raksmey, director of the Department of Portable Water Policies at the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology, and Innovation of Cambodia, stated during a session that the green and low-carbon transition requires coordinated efforts from governments, private enterprises, research institutions, and communities.

Wirun Phichaiwongphakdee, director of the Thailand-China Research Center of the Belt and Road Initiative, shared grassroots success stories during the discussions, highlighting bilateral cooperation examples such as assistance provided to a Thai entrepreneur and joint agricultural initiatives between Thai experts and villagers in Du'an, Guangxi.

Discussions also addressed cross-border energy links. Participants cited the China-Laos 500 kV interconnection project as an example of a win-win practice, noting that it increases two-way power-exchange capacity from 50,000 kilowatts to 1.5 million kW and delivers 3 billion kWh of clean power annually. Yang Bo from CSG Lancang-Mekong International noted that grid connectivity serves as a foundational step, while enabling electricity to flow freely in the market remains a key priority for efficient clean power allocation.

In the digital and technology domain, Macao's Alex Choi, co-founder and executive director of MTEL Telecommunications, emphasized the importance of digital infrastructure and youth innovation in industrial upgrading. Fan Siran from CSG Shenzhen Power Supply Bureau shared the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area's green power outlook, projecting that nearly 60 percent of its electricity will come from green sources by 2030.

Addressing computing-electricity synergy, Wang Hai, assistant professor at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, called for a transition from a one-way supply model to a two-way synergy between electricity and computing. Meanwhile, Zhang Qian from CSG Shenzhen Power Supply Bureau proposed leveraging the Greater Bay Area's advantages in technology, application scenarios, and talent to establish an AI-plus-energy innovation hub for the Asia-Pacific region.

"Initiatives that bring together cross-border stakeholders, industry experts, and youth leaders are essential for driving dialogue around sustainable infrastructure and green energy. The discussions in Shenzhen highlight how regional grid connectivity, digital integration, and computing-electricity synergy are becoming central to future infrastructure planning. For businesses and entrepreneurs operating in the clean energy and technology sectors, understanding these large-scale regional frameworks and cross-border power projects is critical for identifying long-term growth and collaboration opportunities across the Asia-Pacific market." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes