Faced with the severe challenges presented by global climate change, pursuing a green lifestyle is a way to achieve sustainable development. Many countries are exploring ways to reach a balance between economic development and environmental protection. This requires international communication and cooperation, and for young entrepreneurs, it is both a challenge and an opportunity.

The International Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs Associations Work Meeting & Economic Trade Conference, organized by the China International Youth Exchange Center (CIYEC) and the International Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs Association (IAYEA), was held in Beijing on December 5, 2024.

During the parallel meeting on green development cooperation, 13 entrepreneurs from China, Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Tanzania discussed various innovative technologies and achievements which help further promote international cooperation in clean energy.

The International Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs Associations Work Meeting & Economic Trade Conference is held in Beijing on December 5, 2024. Courtesy of China International Youth Exchange Center

Potential for Green Cooperation

“Regional cooperation is very important for us. We need to work together with China to explore new paths to green development,” said Htet Htet Aung, Yangon region director of Myanmar Young Entrepreneurship Association and executive director of Kyaw Za Min Trading Co., Ltd.

She said that China and Myanmar have a great potential in green cooperation. At present, Myanmar is facing energy challenges, while China is a global leader in green energy. Many Chinese-funded enterprises are investing in Myanmar, providing maintenance and operation services to Myanmar enterprises. In addition, China can also provide clean energy to meet the local demand for electricity.

In the field of transportation, China is now the country with the fastest developing new-energy vehicle market in the world, and has exported many electric motorcycles to Myanmar. China has also participated in Myanmar’s public health work and collaborated with some Myanmar enterprises to promote the development of local infrastructure. 5G is another core element of future mobile technology, which can also drive energy transformation. By sharing the technologies, the two countries can build an environmentally friendly society, so that the traffic congestion and carbon emission can be reduced.

Naing Win Htet, Mandalay regional elected committee member of Myanmar Young Entrepreneurship Association and managing director of Pole Star Place Co., Ltd., said that the fields of electrification and photovoltaic also present cooperation potential. He said that the Myanmar government is promoting the use of electric vehicles (EV), which have reached unprecedented popularity. Due to energy shortages, Myanmar has a high market demand for EVs.

In the process of the construction of clean energy cities, many cities and enterprises in Myanmar are attempting to install solar photovoltaic panels. Due to the high unit cost of photovoltaic panels, some Myanmar companies are trying to introduce more feasible business models to reduce the cost. As a result, more opportunities have been created for China-Myanmar cooperation and investment.

“The Myanmar government has adhered to protecting the environment and also building a green future. The cooperation between China and Myanmar can set an example to other neighboring countries in the region. Therefore, it has to promote more cooperation in green energy and smart transportation. At present, China can provide assistance to Myanmar in many fields, so we are looking forward to more collaboration with China,” said Htet Htet Aung.

Under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, a China-Myanmar bridge of green cooperation has been built to promote regional ecological prosperity. Recently, 40 solar lights have been installed on the roads of Yangon’s Thaketa Town. One local village chief said that the energy-saving lights have provided great convenience for people’s nighttime travel, and also enhanced the friendship between the two countries.

Since 2022, a total of 34 aid projects have been implemented in Myanmar to improve local livelihoods, including infrastructure, agricultural technology, medical and health care, cultural education, water safety, environmental protection, and emergency rescue.

Data from China’s General Administration of Customs show that from January to October 2024, the total value of imports and exports between China and Myanmar was nearly RMB 99 billion. Among them, China’s exports to Myanmar amounted to about RMB 56.4 billion, and imports from Myanmar reached about RMB 42.6 billion.

Technical Talents Exchanges

“Before EVs became available in many countries, people often felt heat waves from the exhaust of cars while they waited at traffic lights. While I was riding my bike in Beijing recently, I didn’t feel any automobile exhaust. Then after looking around, I found that the buses and taxies around me were almost all EVs. This helped me realize the deep importance of green travel,” said Denis Lee Han Lim, deputy president of Malaysian Mandarin Young Entrepreneurs Association and executive director of TEN MUSD TECHNOLOGY SDN BHD.

He said that green development is not only the responsibility of a country, but also the common mission of all mankind, which involves collaborative innovation and political cooperation. Multinational enterprises and research institutions should strengthen cooperation, so as to promote the sharing of low-carbon and clean energy technologies to support global reduction goals.

EVs and hydrogen-powered vehicles are the future trend. He said that by building regional and international green supply chain networks, we can promote the efficient utilization of renewable energy to reduce waste and pollution. In addition, green finance is also playing a significant role. It is necessary to develop green finance tools, such as green debt and sustainable funds, to provide sufficient funding support.

Lee said the core of green cooperation lies in technical talents exchanges. It is necessary to establish an international green technology R&D platform to accelerate innovative transformation. At the same time, more international trade and talent exchanges should be conducted as new drivers. Green publicity also needs to be strengthened to help the public better understand and participate in green lifestyles.

“Green cooperation is a model for future-oriented economic and social innovation. Through the joint efforts of governments, enterprises, and society, it can help create an eco-friendly future,” he said.

China carries out much cooperation with Southeast Asian countries. Since the establishment of dialogue relations between China and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) over three decades ago, the two sides have deepened exchange and cooperation in sustainable development. 2024 marked the ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchange, and a series of activities were held to build a bridge for green cooperation.

The attendees said that they have connected with many Chinese enterprises in the process of promoting green transformation, and looked forward to more cooperation in areas such as sewage treatment, photovoltaic power, and clean energy, in a bid to create a resource-saving and eco-friendly future.