Introduction of WEC

WEC started as World Power Conference which held its first meeting in 1924. The purposes of WEC are to study the relations between energy industry and national economy, the strategy for energy exploitation and utilization, environmental protection and sustainable development, and to coordinate policies in the fields of energy, environment and social development. The Executive Assembly is the supreme body of WEC. The Administrative Committee, the Programme Committee, the Studies Committee and the Secretariat were established under the Executive Assembly. Presently, the Chairman of the Executive Assembly is Mr. Jim Adam (USA). WEC is headquartered in London. The current membership of WEC is over 90 Member Committees. WEC uses three-year work cycles, each culminating in a World Energy Congress.

China's Relations with WEC

In 1983, China joined WEC and established China National Committee of WEC which is composed by 16 governmental agencies and companies. Taiwan province and Hongkong SAR are also the member of WEC.

China National Committee actively participates in the Executive Assembly meeting annually.

In 1995, the Administrative Committee meeting was held in China.

In 1997, Asia Pacific Forum of WEC was held in China.

After the 16th WEC Congress, from 1995 to 1998, China engaged in the following WEC study programs: Energy for Tomorrow's World Revisited, Pricing Energy in Developing Countries, and Survey of Efficiency Policies.

In September 1998, the 17th WEC Congress was held in Houston, USA. The Congress reaffirmed the important role played by energy industry in mitigating the adverse impact of East Asian financial crisis, and stressed the importance of technological innovation in satisfying energy consumption demand in the next half century. The delegates conducted discussion on the issues of energy supply, efficiency of energy supply and utilization and energy pollution. The Chinese delegation, headed by Mr. Ye Qing, the chairman of China National Committee of WEC, attended the Congress, and actively participated in its activities.

From 19 to 23 September 1999, the Executive Assembly meeting of WEC was held in Crocow, Poland. The meeting considered WEC membership, programmes conducted by the Committees, appointments to the Committees, regional programmes and budgetary matter. The Chinese delegation actively participated in the meeting.

In early 2000, the international symposium on regenerating energy cosponsored by WEC and International Energy Programme was hosted in Guilin, China.