Green economic collaboration between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is proving to be a vital pathway for sustainable development, delivering tangible benefits to the region and offering a model for global climate governance, said Shi Zhongjun, secretary-general of the ASEAN-China Centre.

Speaking as the two sides mark the fifth anniversary of their comprehensive strategic partnership, Shi highlighted the green economy as a key pillar of the relationship.

The direction for this collaboration is set out in the Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2026-30), adopted last year. The plan explicitly calls for support for cooperation on the green economy, including strengthening green industrialization, developing and applying new and emerging energy technologies, and mobilizing green investment.

In the past, China has played a significant role in the green transition of Southeast Asia. A study by Zero Carbon Analytics indicates that China is the top source of public clean energy investment for the region between 2013-23 and leads in clean energy trade with key ASEAN markets.

"China-ASEAN green economy cooperation is an essential path to achieving regional sustainable development," Shi said. "It has already delivered substantial development dividends to both sides."

The ASEAN Investment Report 2025, released by the ASEAN Secretariat in October, reveals that Chinese enterprises are playing an increasingly significant role in ASEAN's energy investment landscape, having accounted for a cumulative $5.2 billion in energy-related greenfield projects between 2019 and 2023.

Customs data shows that in the first 11 months of 2025, bilateral trade between China and ASEAN reached 6.82 trillion yuan ($1 trillion), an increase of 8.5 percent year-on-year. And a significant driver of this growth is China's burgeoning exports of electric vehicles.

Shi emphasized the natural synergy between the two sides. "China possesses a complete green industry chain, leading new energy technology, and mature green development experience," he said. "ASEAN, on the other hand, boasts abundant renewable energy resources and vast market potential for green transformation. Our strengths are complementary, and our needs align."

Green energy projects stand as a hallmark of the collaboration. By the end of 2024, total investment in hydropower, wind power, and photovoltaic projects under China-ASEAN cooperation had surged more than fivefold compared with 2014, with installed capacity skyrocketing 15-fold, according to Xinhua.

Shi cited the Lower Sesan II hydropower station in Cambodia, the Monsoon Wind Power project in Laos, and the Sejingkat energy storage project in Malaysia as prime examples of such collaboration. "These projects not only help host countries in greening their energy mix but also create jobs and stimulate local economies," he said.

The Lower Sesan II hydropower station in Cambodia, completed in 2018 by the China Huaneng Group, exemplifies this integrated model. With an annual output of 1.97 billion kilowatt-hours, it meets the electricity needs of approximately 2.6 million people, according to the company's official website. Beyond power generation, the project also features a decade-long program to train Cambodian electrical engineers through mentorship by Chinese experts. By 2025, over 20 Cambodian engineers were working at the facility, the company said on its website.

Shi also stressed the importance of joint capacity-building efforts. "Training in green technology, green finance, and carbon emission reduction allows us to share China's green development experience, enhances ASEAN countries' own capacity for green transition, and solidifies the public support and talent foundation for our cooperation," he said.

Looking beyond bilateral and regional development, the secretary-general framed the China-ASEAN partnership as a replicable model for broader Global South collaboration.

Mutual benefit

"By adhering to principles of mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit — without attaching political conditions — China assists ASEAN nations in enhancing their green development capabilities through technology transfer, capacity building, and investment cooperation," he said. "This creates a win-win outcome, offering a referable and scalable model for other developing countries."

For example, last year, China-Cambodia joint research in the karst critical zone was listed by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation in its document "Good Practices in South-South and Triangular Cooperation for Sustainable Development".

China and Cambodia have also jointly established the low-carbon demonstration zone project of South-South cooperation on climate change in Preah Sihanouk Province, starting in 2019. Over the years, China has supported Cambodia in strengthening its climate resilience through the provision of key equipment and materials, such as solar streetlights and photovoltaic systems, along with targeted capacity-building training.

"By jointly implementing the goals of the Paris Agreement, advancing carbon peak and neutrality, and promoting regional energy transition, China and ASEAN are not only contributing to regional emission reductions but also taking concrete action to safeguard the common interests of the Global South," Shi said.

"The ASEAN-China Centre will continue to promote the deepening of green cooperation between the two sides and contribute further to global climate governance and sustainable development."