Policy paper

UK–China memorandum of understanding, 2025

Published 27 February 2026

Memorandum of Understanding for a UK-China Clean Energy Partnership (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Partnership’) between The Department of Energy and Climate Change, of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and The National Energy Administration of The People’s Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Participants’)

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1. Background

1.1 The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) and the People’s Republic of China (China) have established longstanding and deep collaboration in the field of clean energy, with respect to our respective emissions reductions and carbon neutrality or net zero targets committed by respective Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). This collaboration covers academic, research, regulatory, policy, standards, industrial, and commercial partnerships. Both countries are implementing policies to ensure energy affordability, security and sustainability, and to meet respective energy transition commitments.

1.2 In the areas of climate change and energy, the Participants recognise the urgency and significance of climate change, and agree that transitioning to net zero / carbon neutrality as quickly as possible, on the premise of ensuring energy security, will require an economy-wide effort.

1.3 The 10 years since the signing of the UK-China Clean Energy Partnership have demonstrated the importance of UK-China clean energy collaboration in green manufacturing, market reform, investment, and ministerial exchanges, in support of both countries’ efforts to reach net zero / carbon neutrality.

1.4 Building on the last 10 years of collaboration, and each country’s significant experience and expertise, the Participants believe that this new, updated Partnership has the potential to unlock the barriers to emissions reductions through further promoting the use of clean energy and the continued development of green technologies, supporting high-quality economic growth, facilitating mutual investment and regulatory engagement, and allowing trade in green goods and services.

2. Objectives

2.1 The objective of the Partnership is to increase the pace of the development and deployment of clean energy in the UK and China, to promote emissions reductions, energy security and economic growth in both countries. The Partnership will allow officials to continue to work together through existing tracks and through new activities to provide strategic direction for UK-China clean energy collaboration in research and development, innovation, policy, standards, academic, industrial, regulatory, multilateral and commercial areas. The Participants recognise that given their respective strengths in policy, markets, and research and innovation, an expanded Partnership will allow them to address the growing urgency of the energy transition and the importance of supporting continued economic growth while reducing emissions.

3. Areas of cooperation

1. 3.1 To further enhance cooperation between China and the UK on energy, the 2 participants have identified areas of cooperation:
   1. 3.1.1 Power market reform and electricity grids
   2. 3.1.2 Battery storage
   3. 3.1.3 Offshore wind
   4. 3.1.4 Carbon capture, usage and storage
   5. 3.1.5 Clean, low carbon and renewable hydrogen
2. 3.2 While prioritising the sectors outlined above, the Participants will also continue to discuss cooperation on a wider range of sectors of shared interest, including but not limited to civil nuclear, charging infrastructure, green electricity certificates and green power, and pathways to coal power transition, both within the framework of this Partnership and through other forums and dialogues, including through other ministries and departments where appropriate. The Participants may also explore opportunities to work together internationally, including in third markets, to support the global energy transition, where appropriate and jointly decided.

Cooperation mechanisms

1. 3.3 The Participants have significant policy expertise and experience to share in order to better promote the generation, deployment, and utilisation of clean energy, to reduce emissions, and to support green economic growth. This experience exists in respective governmental, regulatory, industrial, commercial, non-governmental, research, finance and academic organisations. Topics for policy collaboration, research, lessons and information exchange may include, among others, the following areas:
   1. 3.3.1 Market reform and investment incentives, including power, and renewable energy markets
   2. 3.3.2 ‘Green’ public and private financing to embed clean energy and sustainability in domestic and third country finance and multilateral investment funds
   3. 3.3.3 Effective legislation
   4. 3.3.4 Domestic and international regulation and standards
   5. 3.3.5 Policy approaches and industry incentives
   6. 3.3.6 Public engagement
   7. 3.3.7 Energy security
   8. 3.3.8 Supply chains
2. 3.4 Industrial strategy. In order to stimulate clean energy cooperation, the Participants will consider ways to share experiences on policies and approaches to creating clean energy industries and pathways to a clean energy transition, and to develop collaboration between their respective industries in relevant fields. This will help partner industry, government and academia to focus on how best to promote new technologies.
   
   
3. 3.5 Commercial partnerships and investment. The Participants recognise that significant expertise exists in their respective businesses and public sector finance and investment bodies. The Partnership will aim to facilitate opportunities for British and Chinese companies and financial bodies to collaborate to create mutual trade and investment opportunities and arrangements in the green manufacturing, goods, and services and clean energy sectors. Activities carried out should be for the mutual benefit of both nations. The creation of economic growth and jobs in both markets is an important consideration.

4. Implementation

4.1 The Participants will provide strategic direction to and review cooperation under this Partnership in a special session of the annual UK-China Energy Dialogue, alongside platforms and side events focused on areas of mutual interest for both countries in each of the areas outlined above.

4.2 Between these annual meetings the Participants are encouraged to meet by a joint decision at a ministerial and working level to deepen collaboration. The Participants may also consider running projects to support development of the Partnership and the establishment of other mechanisms, for example joint centres of expertise, working groups, supporting Memoranda of Understanding, capacity building, commercial or public-private arrangements, or teams of independent experts, to implement and advise on the objectives set out in this Partnership. Funding for such activities will be decided between the Participants on a case-by-case basis and may include commercial funding.

4.3 The Participants may encourage the establishment of direct relationships between businesses of both countries to promote enhanced trade and investment opportunities.

4.4 This Partnership will also consider and, where appropriate, conduct joint activities, working groups, or initiatives with other UK-China groupings, including but not limited to the JETCO (and any associated working groups), the Investment Working Group, and the Economic and Financial Dialogue.

5. Representation

5.1 The implementation of this Partnership will be led for the UK by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and for China by the National Energy Administration (NEA).

5.2 Each Participant will provide a contact person to co-ordinate with all interested parties in their respective countries and with the contact person of the other Participant. After each meeting the contact persons will jointly decide an action plan in consultation with their principals and each other.

6. Resources

6.1 Each Participant will be responsible for the costs they incur under this Partnership and will provide resources to support activity and projects under this Partnership in accordance with their respective national procedures and funding arrangements. Where both Participants decide, activities linked to this Partnership may be jointly funded. This might include, but is not limited to, funding from central and local governments, businesses, research organisations, academic institutions etc.

7. Commencement, duration and termination

7.1 This Partnership will come into effect on the date of its signature by both Participants and will continue in effect until terminated by either Participant giving 6 months written notice to the other. Unless jointly decided by the Participants, the termination of this Partnership will not prejudice the completion of any activities/programmes which have been decided upon prior to the date of termination. Amendments to this Partnership may be jointly determined in writing by the Participants at any time and will come into effect upon signature by both Participants.

7.2 The foregoing record represents the understandings reached between the Participants. This Partnership does not constitute a legally binding agreement or create any rights of obligations under domestic or international law. It does not affect the Participants’ rights and obligations derived from international agreements and conventions to which they are parties or their obligations under domestic law.

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Signed in Beijing, China on 17 March 2025, in 2 original copies in English and Mandarin Chinese.

For the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland:

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP,
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero

For the People’s Republic of China:

Wang Hongzhi,
Administrator,
National Energy Administration