Li Xiaohong, President of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), met with Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), and conferred upon him the certificate for becoming the academy’s foreign member during his visit on July 5, 2023.

Li congratulated the IAE head on being elected as a CAE foreign member and recognized the efforts and achievements Birol has made since assuming the position in 2015. Li also introduced the CAE’s collaboration with the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) in the UK, the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) in the US, the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences (ATV), the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE), and other engineering academies in the fields of clean energy transition and net zero emission.

Furthermore, Li specifically shared the progress on “Sino-French Hydrogen Energy Strategy Research“ in partnership with the National Academy of Technologies of France (NATF). He expressed hope to strengthen international academic exchanges and cooperation with the IEA in the field of energy, promoting sustainable development and the realization of emission reduction targets.

Birol said he is very pleased to become a CAE foreign member and believes that China plays a leading role in the global clean energy transition. He emphasized the vital role of engineers in this endeavor and pledged that the IEA will continue to act as a bridge to promote international exchanges and cooperation in energy science and technology.

Laura Cozzi, Director of Sustainability, Technology and Outlooks and Chief Energy Modeller at the IEA and Rebecca McKimm, the IEA’s Acting China Programme Manager, also joined Birol’s visit to the CAE.

Wang Chen, Vice President of the CAE, and other CAE members also attended the meeting.