——Interview with Li Xiande, Chairman of JinkoSolar Co., Ltd
■China Economic Times reporter Zhang Na
From May 5 to 10, President Xi Jinping was invited to pay state visits to France, Serbia and Hungary. Among the Chinese companies in Europe that followed up, new energy-related companies were the main force, and Li Xiande, chairman of JinkoSolar Co., Ltd., was one of the private entrepreneurs who followed. After the visit to Europe, he introduced the harvest and experience of the trip to the reporter of China Economic Times, and expressed his views on hot topics such as the advantages of China's new energy enterprises, the exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and European enterprises, and the development prospects of the mainland's photovoltaic industry.
China Economic Times: As a representative of a follow-up new energy company, what are your gains and experiences during this trip?
Li Xiande: In France, representatives of Chinese and French entrepreneurs discussed topics such as industrial innovation and mutual trust and win-win results, green economy and low-carbon transformation, new quality productivity and sustainable development, and made suggestions on further deepening Sino-French economic and trade cooperation. My biggest experience is that China's new energy industries such as photovoltaic and energy storage have been very clearly at the center and top of the world in both technology and manufacturing, which is very remarkable. At the same time, however, it is important to note that due to factors such as geopolitics and the competitive environment, there will be more challenges in the future.
China Economic Times: We understand that during your visit, you also attended the sixth meeting of the Sino-French Entrepreneur Committee. Through the communication with French companies, what are your in-depth understanding and expectations for the needs and future cooperation between Chinese and French energy companies?
Li Xiande: In order to combat climate change and the energy crisis, and ensure that the goal of carbon neutrality is achieved by 2050, the French government is actively accelerating the implementation of relevant policies. Just last year, France updated its photovoltaic development goals, clarifying that by 2030, the cumulative installed capacity of photovoltaic power generation will reach 60 gigawatts, and by 2050, the cumulative installed capacity of photovoltaic power generation will reach 100 gigawatts. Driven by policies, the development potential of the local photovoltaic industry is continuing to be released. For photovoltaic companies, it undoubtedly provides a long-term and stable development opportunity. As the world's No. 1 PV company in terms of PV shipments for five times, JinkoSolar's competitiveness lies in its continuous technological leadership brought about by its high R&D investment, as well as maintaining close relationships with suppliers and customers. For example, JinkoSolar has joined forces with EDF to jointly win the bid for the Abu Dhabi Phase II 2.2 GW project, which is the largest single landmark project with the lowest electricity price connected to the grid so far, and 500 MW of the project uses Jinko's modules.
China Economic Times: Recently, there has been a lot of talk in the Western public opinion field about China's new energy "overcapacity". What do you think about this?
Li Xiande: We have always adhered to the view that "high-quality production capacity will never be enough, and inferior production capacity will always be excessive", which is applicable everywhere, no matter what industry or era. As President Xi Jinping emphasized during this trip, "China's new energy companies have honed their real skills in open competition, representing advanced production capacity, which not only enriches global supply and alleviates global inflationary pressure, but also makes great contributions to the fight against climate change and green transformation." Whether from the perspective of comparative advantage or global market demand, there is no so-called 'overcapacity' problem. ”
China Economic Times: China is promoting high-quality development and accelerating the development of new quality productive forces, combined with your observations during this trip, what cooperation opportunities will this bring to the international market?
Li Xiande: China's high-quality development and the rise of new productive forces not only demonstrate China's determination to transform and upgrade its economy, but also open up a new path for global economic growth and international cooperation. For Europe, cooperation with China is not only an opportunity to expand the market, but also an important way to jointly address global challenges and achieve sustainable development.
Specifically, first of all, the core of China's high-quality development lies in innovation-driven and industrial upgrading. With China's increased investment in high-tech fields such as artificial intelligence and green energy, the development of these fields has provided new products and services to the global market. European countries have traditional advantages in high-end manufacturing, environmental protection technology, precision engineering and other fields, so there is great potential for cooperation between China and the EU in these fields, and the two sides can complement each other through technical exchanges and joint research and development, and jointly promote scientific and technological progress and industrial innovation. Second, the development of China's new quality productive forces pays attention to the principles of environmental protection and sustainable development. This means that Chinese companies will pay more attention to environmental standards in the global supply chain, and can provide a large export market for environmentally friendly products and technologies in Europe and other countries. At the same time, it has also created more conditions for China-EU cooperation in the fields of green economy and circular economy. Together, the two parties can develop new business models to drive a greener and more sustainable global economy.
China Economic Times: How do you think Chinese energy companies should play an important role in global sustainable development?
Li Xiande: As the world's largest producer and exporter of photovoltaic products, China plays a crucial role in promoting the global energy transition and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. As an important force to promote high-quality development, enterprises in this field can play a more important role in the global energy transition by ensuring their global leadership through technological innovation, expanding international cooperation, participating in rule-making, improving environmental responsibility, and strengthening brand building.
Specifically, for example, in technological innovation and R&D, Chinese PV companies should focus on R&D related technologies to improve the conversion efficiency of PV modules, extend product life and reduce production costs, while also developing more environmentally friendly production processes and technologies.
Another example is to participate in the formulation of international rules, and Chinese PV companies should actively participate in the process of formulating international standards to ensure that China's voice is properly represented, which can help shape fairer and more reasonable international trade rules, thereby contributing to the healthy development of the global market.
In addition, in the face of the challenge of global climate change, Chinese PV companies should also enhance their awareness of environmental responsibility. To do this, we need to reduce the environmental impact of the production process and pay attention to the full life cycle management of our products.
China Economic Times: What will be the development trend of the global energy market in 2024?
Li Xiande: In a nutshell, "during the cycle, prices are under pressure". The total installed capacity is still growing, and the competitive landscape is clearer. Full orders maintain a high operating rate, enhance product competitiveness and obtain premium opportunities. Overall, we remain optimistic about the global PV market demand in 2024, with growth of more than 20% expected.
Chief Producer丨Wang Hui and Che Haigang
Producer丨Li Piguang, Wang Yu, Liu Weimin
Editor-in-Chief丨Mao Jinghui Editor丨Gu Yun