At the opening session of the 16th APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting in Beijing, China, on September 10, Tang The Hung, Deputy Director of the Electricity Authority of Viet Nam, under the Ministry of Industry and Trade and a representative of the Vietnamese delegation to the meeting, said Viet Nam’s priority is to ensure “a secure, stable, affordable and sustainable energy supply” that supports rapid economic development while advancing the country’s long-term climate commitments.

The meeting is being held under the theme “Forge an Innovative and Synergistic Asia - Pacific Energy Community for All,” as the global energy landscape undergoes profound transformation. Geopolitical tensions, conflicts affecting major energy suppliers, disruptions to global supply chains and growing competition over critical minerals are creating new uncertainties for energy security. “These developments remind us that energy security and energy transition are not competing objectives, they are increasingly mutually reinforcing,” Tang The Hung said.

He noted that the scale of the global transformation is significant. According to the International Energy Agency, global energy investment is expected to reach around USD 3.4 trillion in 2026, with approximately USD 2.2 trillion going to clean energy, including renewables, grids, storage, low-emission fuels, nuclear power, efficiency and electrification. Clean-energy investment is therefore approaching twice the level of investment in fossil fuels. At the same time, the IEA projects that renewables will meet more than 90% of the growth in global electricity demand between 2025 and 2030.

“For Viet Nam, these trends reinforce three priorities,” the Vietnamese representative said.

The first is strengthening energy security and resilience. Viet Nam needs to diversify energy sources, modernize power infrastructure, improve energy efficiency, and enhance the flexibility and resilience of its electricity system. “In an increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment, resilient domestic and regional energy systems are essential,” he said.

The second priority is accelerating a clean and just energy transition. Viet Nam is promoting renewable energy, including offshore wind and solar power, while developing transmission networks, energy storage and other technologies necessary to integrate variable renewable generation. “We believe the transition must be affordable and inclusive, ensuring that economic growth and improved living standards remain at its centre,” Tang The Hung said.

The third priority is promoting innovation, investment and regional connectivity. According to him, the energy transition requires not only technology, but also finance, skilled human resources, infrastructure and strong partnerships between governments and the private sector.

Viet Nam welcomes cooperation in smart grids, energy storage, digital energy systems, green hydrogen and its derivatives, energy efficiency and other emerging technologies.

Against this background, APEC has a particularly important role to play. The Asia - Pacific is at the centre of global economic and energy transformation, while APEC economies are deeply interconnected and their energy security is increasingly affected by developments beyond their borders.

“APEC can therefore serve as a platform for practical cooperation, building trust, sharing experience, facilitating investment and strengthening regional resilience,” he said.

Viet Nam encouraged APEC economies to focus on sharing policy experience and best practices, particularly in renewable energy, energy efficiency and grid modernization; promoting regional connectivity and investment, including mobilizing public and private finance for resilient and low-emission energy infrastructure; and ensuring inclusiveness so that developing economies and vulnerable communities can access affordable energy and benefit from new technologies.

Tang The Hung affirmed Viet Nam’s readiness to work with APEC economies to build an energy community that is secure, innovative, connected, sustainable and inclusive. “Let us forge an Asia - Pacific energy community where innovation strengthens resilience, cooperation strengthens security, and the benefits of the energy transition are shared by all,” he said.

The 16th APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting is taking place on September 10-11, in Beijing, China, bringing together ministers to strengthen regional cooperation on energy security and the clean energy transition. Ministers will discuss ways to expand access to reliable and affordable energy services and strengthen links between artificial intelligence and energy systems to build more resilient and diversified energy supply chains. The meeting will advance APEC’s collective goals of reducing aggregate energy intensity by 45 percent by 2035 and doubling the share of modern renewable energy by 2030 across the Asia-Pacific region.