Azerbaijan, China sign cooperation agreement in eco-friendly vehicle sector

Chinese NIO electric vehicle company showcased its vision for the future of electric mobility at the Azerbaijan Pavilion during the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29).

Several key figures, including Deputy Minister of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan and CEO of COP29 Azerbaijan Elnur Soltanov, Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Umayra Taghiyeva, Deputy Minister of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China Zhao Yingmin and Chair of COP29 Azerbaijan Operating Company and Chief Operating Officer for COP29 Narmin Jarchalova attended the presentation, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

While opening the event with a keynote address, Soltanov highlighted the ongoing global shift from traditional phones to smartphones, drawing a parallel to the gradual transition from fossil fuel-powered vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs).

Following his remarks, Yingmin emphasised China’s proactive efforts in combating climate change. He noted that China has made significant strides in the production of electric vehicles, aiming to expand their global usage. 

"Last year, China produced over 10 million electric vehicles, securing its position as a global leader in this sector," he stated.

A cooperation agreement focused on environmentally friendly vehicles was signed between Azerbaijan's GreenCar company and China's NIO. 

Founded in Shanghai in 2014, NIO specialises in the production of eco-friendly electric vehicles and is recognised as a leading player in the electric mobility sector.

COP29, being held from November 11 to 22 at Baku Stadium, represents Azerbaijan's largest and most significant international event to date, marking the first time the country has hosted a COP summit. The event began with the signing of a Host Country Agreement and other important documents between the Azerbaijani government and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat. A central focus of COP29 is the establishment of a fair and ambitious New Collective Quantitative Goal (NCQG) for climate finance. In line with this, the presidency of COP29 has introduced 14 key initiatives that link climate action to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

These initiatives cover areas such as green energy corridors, energy storage, climate resilience, clean hydrogen, methane reduction from organic waste, and the development of green digital technologies. One of the flagship proposals is the creation of a Climate Finance Action Fund, aimed at supporting the critical goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. Throughout COP29, Azerbaijan has demonstrated its commitment to climate action and environmental protection. The unanimous decision to elect Azerbaijan as the host for this summit underscores the global community’s trust in the country’s leadership on climate issues. In his opening remarks, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized Azerbaijan’s pivotal role in global climate efforts, underscoring the country’s dedication to mitigating climate change and advancing sustainable development.

By Naila Huseynova