Source: People's Daily  Author: Hannan Gillani

On the mountain ridges of Malong District, Qujing City, Yunnan Province, silvery-white wind turbines rotate slowly, converting the plateau's wind 

into clean electricity. Not far away, at the Zhuge South Mountain Wind Power Observation Platform, tourists stream in continuously, and the neatly arranged windmills have made this place a new "check-in spot."

Not long ago, I visited Qujing for research, and I was deeply impressed by the vitality injected into local development through green transformation. As one of Yunnan's key clean and renewable energy projects, the Tongquan Wind Farm has generated approximately 1.7 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity since it went into operation, saving over 450,000 tons of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by more than 1.26 million tons. The local area has also strived to explore a sustainable development model that combines new energy development with tourism, bringing tangible economic benefits to residents in surrounding areas.

In my home country of Pakistan, changes in the energy sector are also quietly taking place. From open fields and farms to the rooftops of urban factories and residences, photovoltaic solar panels have spread rapidly across Pakistan over the past two years. Data shows that in 2024, Pakistan imported more than 16 gigawatts of solar modules, approximately twice the total for 2023. In the first three quarters of this year, solar module imports reached 12.7 gigawatts.

Pakistan's development of clean and renewable energy cannot be separated from China's support. As the world's largest exporter of clean technology, China supplies over 80% of the world's photovoltaic modules and 70% of wind power equipment. Over the past decade, China has helped reduce the average electricity cost of global wind and photovoltaic power projects by more than 60% and 80% respectively, continuously empowering global green development.

Pakistan has long been plagued by high electricity prices, power shortages, and frequent blackouts. As the price of Chinese photovoltaic solar panels becomes increasingly affordable, many Pakistani families and enterprises have recognized the economic advantages of this clean and renewable energy. In Lahore, an industrial hub, many factories have built photovoltaic power stations, and schools, hospitals, and shopping malls have also joined the "pursuit of sunlight." In rural areas of Punjab and Sindh provinces, farmers have replaced diesel generators with solar-powered tube wells, achieving lower irrigation costs. These changes have not only reduced residents' living costs and improved their quality of life but also created more job opportunities across Pakistan.

Beyond Pakistan, China has long been actively engaged in green international cooperation, promoting clean and renewable energy solutions such as photovoltaics and wind power. It has helped many developing countries gain stable and affordable energy, reducing their reliance on fossil fuels. This progress is particularly notable in sun-rich regions of the Middle East and Africa. It can be said that Chinese manufacturing and technology are enabling more and more countries to utilize clean and renewable energy at an unprecedented speed. As noted in a report by a Pakistani energy and environmental think tank, China is the architect of an energy paradigm for the Global South—one that is rapid, equitable, and thoroughly transformative.

Adapting to the global trend of green and low-carbon development is vividly reflected in a series of practical China-Pakistan cooperation projects. Cooperation in clean and renewable energy is vigorously promoting people's well-being, energy conservation, and carbon reduction, while laying the foundation for long-term sustainable growth in the future.

China has a clear plan for green development and possesses an advanced industrial system and technological capabilities, while Pakistan has a vast market and development potential. It is hoped that the two countries can deepen cooperation in relevant fields to achieve complementary advantages and mutually beneficial outcomes.

From the rotating wind turbines in Qujing to the shining photovoltaic panels on the rooftops of Lahore, green development has benefited thousands of families in China and is transforming the lives of countless Pakistanis.