In the first week of November “China for the World” 2018 Energy Infrastructure Cooperation Forum was cohosted by industrial giant GE and Caixin Media. Now in its fifth year, the forum is China’s first private-sector event where global experts gather to share insights and opportunities and explore how to best bring lasting benefits to communities in Belt and Road countries. Nearly 700 experts from across the energy infrastructure ecosystem shared insights and opportunities, on how to best bring lasting benefits to communities in developing regions, particularly in Belt and Road markets. With the Belt and Road Initiative originally announced in 2013, the forum took an opportunity to reflect on the past five years of executing projects in Belt and Road regions.
Industry experts were invited to discuss their views in sub-forums on market ecology for the regions of Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia, as well as in sub-forums on turnkey solutions for market development, project cooperation, and financing. Since the Belt and Road Initiative was launched, nearly 100 countries and international institutes have pledged support and gotten involved in growing the markets.
GE has signed a number of new deals with partners at the event, including India’s Godda-2x800MW coal-fired power plant project, a long-term services agreement with Thar Energy Limited for the 330MW mine mouth lignite-fired plant at Thar Coal Block II Sindh. The 2018 forum noted that despite constant news of a more protectionist world, the global demand for power persists
