UK Energy Security and Net Zero Minister Ed Miliband will visit China in March to revive the China-UK energy dialogue, which has been suspended for seven years, and meet with Chinese investors.
Sources say Miliband’s visit will focus on non-nuclear energy sectors, aiming to advance cooperation in offshore photovoltaic power, wind power, hydrogen energy, and carbon markets. The visit marks a significant move by the Labour government to forge a new diplomatic path amid tensions between the US, Europe, and China.
Earlier, on February 20th, China’s Ministry of Finance unveiled the Green Sovereign Bond Framework of the People’s Republic of China, a cornerstone document for the Ministry as an international green bond issuer. The 11th China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue policy outcomes revealed that China agreed to issue its first yuan-denominated green sovereign bond in 2025 and list it in London, marking China’s first green sovereign bond issuance in the UK.
The UK government has faced significant pressure in energy transition in recent years. Despite setting ambitious clean energy targets, the country faces a severe domestic investment gap and urgently needs external funding and technical support. Meanwhile, the recent unilateralist policies of the US government, particularly exclusive measures on green energy subsidies, have left the UK feeling marginalized. Within the UK government, there is a belief that over-reliance on US energy technology and markets could undermine the UK’s energy security and industrial independence.
China’s global leadership in renewable energy makes it an ideal partner for the UK in seeking cooperation. Chinese companies have extensive experience in manufacturing offshore wind and photovoltaic power equipment and implementing projects, and they are rapidly advancing in hydrogen energy technology research and development. Furthermore, China’s vast green financial market offers potential funding sources for UK energy projects.
