Vice President Han Zheng arrived in Türkiye to attend the Antalya Leaders’ Summit at COP31 as the special representative of President Xi Jinping, setting out a four-point platform for global climate governance.
Antalya Summit Climate Proposals and Energy Pledges
Addressing the Antalya Leaders’ Summit at the 31st meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Han outlined concrete expectations for the decade following the Paris Agreement. He emphasized that developed nations should take the lead in emissions reductions and fulfill their climate finance commitments.
China outlined domestic targets for 2030, aiming for non-fossil fuel electricity generation to reach 50% and electricity to make up 35% of terminal energy consumption. The country also pledged to expand the application of its Mazu meteorological smart early-warning system to help other nations manage climate risks.
Speaking to attendees in Türkiye, the special representative said that climate change impacts are accelerating globally and that nations must follow the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. He urged participants to promote the free flow of high-quality green technologies while combining mitigation and adaptation measures to enhance disaster preparedness and emergency response.
Bilateral Talks with UN Chief and Turkish Leadership
During the summit, Han met with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to discuss implementation gaps faced by developing nations. Guterres praised China as a pillar of multilateralism and said that practical climate actions have consistently exceeded previous promises.
The UN chief said that the global organization relies heavily on Chinese contributions and described Beijing as a leader in renewable energy. During their conversation, Han highlighted that last year Beijing announced its 2035 nationally determined contributions and expressed the intent to strive for even better outcomes.
Han also held discussions with Turkish President Erdoğan in Antalya, followed by a joint appearance with Turkish Vice President Yermez at a green development business forum in Istanbul. Both sides agreed to align development strategies across renewable energy, artificial intelligence, and biotechnology.
During the meeting with the Turkish president, the two sides discussed mutual support for core interests and national security. President Erdoğan reaffirmed Turkey’s strict adherence to the one-China principle and expressed a desire to advance bilateral relations to a higher level.
South-South Cooperation Initiatives
At the high-level forum on South-South cooperation, Beijing introduced new assistance programs aimed at building climate resilience across developing regions. Plans include providing lighting to 50,000 off-grid African households within five years and establishing 100 clean-stove demonstration villages.
The initiatives also introduce the Global South Climate Action Leadership Program and the China Climate Change South-South Academy to train climate professionals from partner nations.
The high-level South-South forum was hosted jointly by the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the China Meteorological Administration at the China Pavilion. Notable attendees included Comorian President Azali Assoumani and Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda, alongside representatives from international entities such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
