On December 13, the China Electric Power Construction Association (CEPCA) held a symposium in Beijing to mark its 35th anniversary. Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the meeting thoroughly implemented the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, jointly reviewed the historic achievements of the CEPCA, explored the path to high-quality development of the electric power construction industry in the new era, and worked together with the industry to draw a grand blueprint for building a strong power construction nation.

Scene of the symposium marking the 35th anniversary of the founding of the China Electric Power Construction Association

Xin Bao'an, Chairman of the China Electricity Council, Chairman of the Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization, and former Party Secretary and Chairman of State Grid Corporation of China, delivered a speech. Wang Siqiang, President of the China Electric Power Construction Association, presided over the meeting and delivered a concluding speech.

Scene of the symposium marking the 35th anniversary of the founding of the China Electric Power Construction Association

In his speech, Xin Bao'an congratulated the China Electric Power Construction Association on its achievements over the 35 years since its founding. He stated that since its establishment, the CEPCA has taken it as its mission to promote the sustainable development of the electric power construction industry, carried out a large amount of highly effective work in areas such as "guiding, coordinating, self-disciplining, and serving," played an important role, achieved remarkable results and made outstanding contributions, and won widespread praise from the industry at home and abroad. Regarding the future development of the CEPCA, he proposed: First, it should contribute to the green development of the industry by conducting in-depth investigations and research, actively participating in the research and formulation of policies on the development, planning, and safety assurance of the electric power construction industry, and fully leveraging its role as an advisor and assistant. Second, it should contribute to promoting the green and low-carbon development of the electric power construction industry by fully leveraging its role in driving the industry, vigorously promoting and popularizing green technologies, further strengthening green financial services for industry, and boosting the clean transformation of the power industry. Third, it should contribute to helping create new quality productive forces in the power sector by fully leveraging its role as an industry platform, focusing on key areas such as clean energy and digital transformation, promoting joint efforts to tackle key core technologies, formulating relevant industry standards, and supporting the development of new quality productive forces.

Yang Kun, Party Secretary and Executive Vice Chairman of the China Electricity Council and Chairman of the Seventh Council of the China Electric Power Construction Association, spoke on behalf of former chairmen. He stated that since its establishment in 1989, the CEPCA has adhered to a market- and enterprise-demand-oriented approach, with all colleagues working with one heart and one mind, committed to promoting the sustainable development of the electric power construction industry; the hardships endured have been truly extraordinary, and the achievements are evident to all. In particular, since the Eighth Council, with the goal of "Six New" development and centering on four core capabilities, it has strived to build premium projects, continuously deepened brand services in the electric power construction industry, innovatively carried out distinctive services, and continuously promoted the green and low-carbon development and digital-intelligent transformation of electric power construction. Member units now exceed 1,900, and the expert think tank has reached more than 5,000 people, forming a professional and systematic service network covering all fields and the entire industrial chain of electric power construction. Development has made substantial progress, and the association was successfully rated as a 2024 "5A" national social organization. He expressed the hope that all members of the CEPCA will continue to uphold its purpose and philosophy, be courageous in innovation, dare to break through, devote more thought to enhancing core competitiveness, devise more practical measures to strengthen international exchange and cooperation, strive to expand the association's development space, and, while promoting the association's own high-quality development, actively promote the high-quality development of the industry.

Ouyang Song, former Director of the Central Party History Research Office and former Deputy Head of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, pointed out in his speech that the CEPCA has consistently resolutely implemented national strategic deployments, always focused on its main responsibilities and core business, taken serving and promoting the high-quality development of the industry as an important task, conducted in-depth research on industry development trends, actively offered suggestions and recommendations, and gone all out in deepening standards development, improving development quality, advancing scientific and technological innovation, and achieving intrinsic safety, achieving a series of major results and playing an excellent exemplary and guiding role in the electric power construction industry. He put forward three hopes for the future development of the CEPCA: First, it should "keep the country's great cause in mind," integrate its own development into the grand narrative of national development, and become an indispensable force in national construction; second, it should "lead industry development," always maintain strategic thinking and long-term awareness, and promote high-quality, green, and sustainable development of the industry; third, it should "strengthen its own development," proactively adapt to the needs of industry development, and build the association into a main force driving high-quality development of the industry.

Huang Shuxian, member of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and former Party Secretary and Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, pointed out in his speech that over the past 35 years, the CEPCA has strictly complied with the relevant requirements of the Ministry of Civil Affairs for industry associations, abided by administrative regulations such as the Regulations on the Registration and Administration of Social Organizations and the relevant spirit of Party and state institutional reform, continuously strengthened awareness of its constitution, strictly improved internal governance and standardized external conduct in accordance with its constitution, and achieved healthy and orderly development. In particular, since the establishment of the Eighth Council, the CEPCA has strengthened internal governance, improved its compliance management system, and was successfully rated as a "5A" national social organization by the Ministry of Civil Affairs. He expressed the hope that the CEPCA will continue to earnestly implement the relevant work requirements of the Central Social Work Department and the Ministry of Civil Affairs, keep pace with the times, find its position in high-quality development, continue to explore, be courageous in innovation, persist in promoting industry development through guidance and improving quality through services, devote great efforts to modernizing the national governance system and governance capacity, and promote the standardized and orderly conduct of all the association's work.

Cao Yushu, former Deputy Director of the Office of the Leading Group for Western Region Development of the State Council, pointed out in his speech that the CEPCA being rated as a 2024 "5A" national social organization is the highest honor in the evaluation of national social organizations. Winning this honor fully reflects the recognition and affirmation of the association's work by the government, all sectors of society, and the entire industry. He put forward two suggestions for the future development direction of the CEPCA. First, it should attach importance to the association's positioning and do a good job in systematic planning and future planning. The association is the "home" of member enterprises, the spokesperson for reflecting enterprise demands and improving their development environment, and the advisor and assistant to the government in formulating development plans, policies, and regulations for the engineering construction industry. The "Six New" goals proposed by the Eighth Council are a concrete decomposition and implementation of the association's positioning and have far-reaching strategic significance. The association should do a good job in development planning and "advance with the times and move forward hand in hand." Second, it should continue to expand its "circle of friends," deepen ideological consensus and work coordination among associations, and form a prosperous situation of extensive consultation, joint contribution, shared benefits, and win-win outcomes. It should make good use of expert resources; the CEPCA has more than 50 strategic guidance experts who can play a good guiding and directing role for national development, industry development, and enterprise development. It is necessary to build the CEPCA into a benchmark and model among national social organizations and blaze a path of exemplary practice.

Shi Yubo, former Deputy Director of the National Energy Administration and former Vice Chairman of the former State Electricity Regulatory Commission, first congratulated the CEPCA on being rated as a 2024 "5A" national social organization. He stated that the CEPCA, as a national and industry-wide social organization, is a bridge and bond connecting the government, enterprises, and society, and its service network covers all fields and the entire industrial chain of electric power construction. Over the past 35 years, the association has actively played an industry-leading role. By organizing various professional seminars and technical exchange activities, it has effectively promoted communication and exchange among industry enterprises, greatly enhanced technical levels and innovation capabilities, and laid a solid foundation for the transformation and development of China's electric power construction industry toward green, low-carbon, and intelligent development. He expressed the hope that the CEPCA will continue to make efforts in innovation leadership, continuously enhance international competitiveness, and promote the transformation of China's electric power construction technology from "following" to "leading"; continue to make efforts in standards and specifications, align well with advanced international standards, promote the internationalization of electric power construction standards, and help Chinese electric power enterprises "go global"; continue to make efforts in talent cultivation, reserve sufficient composite talent resources for the electric power construction industry; continue to make efforts in industry self-discipline, strengthen supervision and inspection in key links such as project bidding and quality control, and safeguard the overall image and credibility of the industry; and continue to make efforts in international cooperation, enhance the position and discourse power of Chinese electric power construction enterprises in the global industrial chain, and promote the building of a new pattern of international electric power cooperation.

Wang Shi, a renowned entrepreneur and founder of Vanke Group, congratulated the CEPCA on its achievements over the past 35 years in his speech. He also reviewed his own ties to the electric power construction industry and conducted an in-depth analysis of the challenges and opportunities currently facing the industry. Regarding the future development of the electric power construction industry, Wang Shi offered his own views. He believes that the industry has broad space for embracing renewable energy and strengthening the research, development, and application of advanced technologies such as photovoltaics and wind power. At the same time, digital and intelligent means can be used to improve energy efficiency and address issues such as energy security. Wang Shi also combined his international experience to offer valuable suggestions on how Chinese electric power construction enterprises can go global and play a greater role on the international stage. He called on colleagues in the power industry to strengthen cooperation, jointly promote the development of China's electric power construction cause, and contribute to the realization of global carbon neutrality goals.

In his concluding speech, Wang Siqiang expressed sincere gratitude to all leaders, colleagues, and all sectors of society for their long-standing care and support for the CEPCA.

He pointed out that the CEPCA, as a leader in the electric power construction industry, has always adhered to a people-centered approach, closely centered on national development strategies, actively devoted itself to the electric power construction cause in the new era, and strived to contribute to realizing the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Over the past 35 years, the CEPCA has always stayed true to its original aspiration and mission, kept pace with national development, actively promoted the transformation, upgrading, and high-quality development of the electric power construction industry, and achieved remarkable results in electric power engineering construction, technological innovation, and talent cultivation, making important contributions to the country's economic development and social progress. These achievements would not have been possible without the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee, the joint efforts of all CEPCA members, and the strong support and care of leaders and all sectors of society. The CEPCA will take the 35th anniversary symposium as an opportunity, adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, uphold the purpose of the "Four Services," and, with greater enthusiasm and firmer conviction, join hands with industry enterprises to jointly write a new chapter in the development of China's electric power construction cause.

Also attending the meeting were Zhi Shuping, former Standing Committee member of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Deputy Director of the Proposals Committee, and former Director of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine; Peng Sen, former Deputy Director of the National Development and Reform Commission and former Deputy Director of the former Office of the State Council Leading Group for Economic Restructuring; Yang Shiqiu, former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and former Party Secretary of the National Civil Service Bureau; Zhou Jian, former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Environmental Protection of China; Yang Chunguang, Chairman of the China Association for International Economic and Technical Cooperation and former Deputy Director (vice-ministerial level) of the National Civil Service Bureau; Qian Zhimin, Standing Committee member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Deputy Director of the Committee on Population, Resources and Environment, and former Chairman and Party Secretary of the State Power Investment Corporation; Liu Hao, Director of the Fourth Division of the Second Bureau of the Central Social Work Department; Zhu Huohong, First-Level Researcher of the First Division of the Social Organization Administration Bureau of the Ministry of Civil Affairs; Zhong Jun, former General Manager of China Southern Power Grid Co., Ltd.; Zhang Zongliang, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Chief Expert of Power Construction Corporation of China; Zhang Chengjie, former Deputy General Manager of the former China Guodian Corporation; Zhao Ai, Executive Vice President and Secretary-General of the China Society for Economic Restructuring; Liang Yongpan, Assistant General Manager of China Datang Corporation Ltd.; Jia Yanbing, Assistant General Manager and Director of the Major Projects Office of the National Energy Investment Group Co., Ltd.; Li Yuejun, Party Secretary and General Manager of the New Energy Company of Power Construction Corporation of China (Joint Stock) Co., Ltd.; Xu Xiaobin, Party Committee member and Deputy General Manager of Inner Mongolia Power (Group) Co., Ltd.; Zhang Fengyang, Party Committee member and Deputy General Manager of Beijing Energy Group Co., Ltd.; Zhang Hongbo, Party Committee member and Deputy General Manager of Inner Mongolia Energy Group Co., Ltd.; Chen Mei, Party Secretary of the Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering; Zhao Qing, Vice Chairman of the China Society for Sustainable Development; Liu Yushan, Executive Vice President of the China Metallurgical Construction Association; Hou Jinfeng, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Association for Quality; Shi Zhiyong, Vice Chairman of the China Chemical Construction Enterprise Association; Zhao Jinshan, Secretary-General of the China Installation Association; Ma Yubao, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Construction Enterprise Association; Chen Fei, Vice President and Trade Union Chairman of GCL Group Co., Ltd.; Wang Jun, Executive Vice President of the CEPCA; Yin Song, Vice President; Zhu Huiping, Secretary-General; Zhang Ning, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors; Bai Linjie, Chief Engineer and Deputy Secretary-General; Wang Yanwen, Chief Economist; and Shi Yucheng, Deputy Chief Engineer; former CEPCA leaders Wei Zhaofeng, You Jing, Sun Yong'an, and Li Bin; and meeting delegates attending the Fourth Meeting of the Eighth Council of the CEPCA, among others.

During the meeting, the attending leaders and guests watched the promotional film for the 35th anniversary of the founding of the CEPCA, visited the "CEPCA Style" photo exhibition of the CEPCA's 35th anniversary achievements, and viewed the mobile workers' health medical vehicles, workers' health equipment, and medicines exhibition under the CEPCA's Workers' Health Improvement Project.

More than 200 people attended the meeting, including vice presidents of the CEPCA, representatives of council member units, all members of the Board of Supervisors, representatives of relevant enterprises and relevant industry associations, and responsible persons from various departments of the CEPCA and China Power Construction Technology Group.