[May 17, CGTN Japanese]At a press conference held by the Ministry of Commerce of China on the 16th, spokesperson He Yadong emphasized that “the widespread popularity of China’s new energy products (including EVs) is the result of hard work by companies, not government subsidies.”

According to He, Chinese companies have been investing in R&D and industrial layout in the new energy field for more than 20 years, and through fierce market competition, they have formed unique advantages in terms of innovation, industrial chain, supply chain and market ecology. Competition in China’s new energy market is fierce, and high-quality companies and products are emerging one after another after undergoing the rigorous test of survival of the fittest and elimination.

Industrial subsidy policies originated in Western countries and are commonly adopted by other countries around the world. China’s industrial subsidy policies are mainly led by the government, strictly comply with WTO rules, and always adhere to the principles of fairness, transparency and non-discrimination, and all enterprises operating in China can enjoy them equally. There are no “subsidies prohibited by WTO regulations” in China, and all subsidy-related policies have been reported to the WTO in a timely manner.

Meanwhile, in recent years, Western countries have significantly strengthened subsidies and adopted a large number of exclusionary and discriminatory practices, which have created multiple barriers to the entry of Chinese products into their markets, a typical example of protectionism and a violation of the basic principles of the WTO.

According to estimates, each new energy vehicle will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 1.66 tons per year, and the 1.2 million new energy vehicles exported by China in 2023 will lead to a reduction of about 2 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year. In addition, the development of China’s new energy industry will promote the widespread application and industrialization of green, digital, artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies, promoting the global green and low-carbon process. (c)CGTN Japanese/AFPBB News