The Director of the National Energy Administration of China, Wu Xinxiong formally announced the establishment of the APEC Sustainable Energy Center (APSEC) at the 11th Energy Ministers Meeting during APEC China 2014. The Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli said at the meeting, “We are here to witness the foundation of APSEC and we will assist in the construction of the center and provide support to make contributions to promote sustainable energy development in the Asia-Pacific region”. The Beijing Declaration passed at the meeting approved that all the Energy Ministers agreed to establish APSEC and indicated that an Energy Working Group will offer support and guidance to APSEC.

APSEC commits to enhancing the strategic cooperation of APEC member economies in the field of energy. It establishes a stable and mature information sharing platform and an efficient coordination mechanism under the principle of equality and opening up and mutual benefit. It is expected to strengthen the communications in energy policies and scientific and technological research and development, optimize the energy structure in the Asia-Pacific region and the world, overcome energy and environment crises, achieve the dual goals of healthy economic development and environmental protection in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as promote the sustainable energy development.

Tianjin University, which has taken the lead in the establishment of APSEC has integrated its advanced interdisciplinary scientific research and human resources, and gathered first-class research institutions, made industry alliances with key enterprises and well-known experts and scholars in the field of energy at home and abroad, so as to achieve a high degree of the integration of resources and efficient utilization of those resources. Established to optimize the energy structure and focus on the energy development trend, APSEC aims to become a renowned comprehensive energy research institution in the Asia-Pacific region and the world.

APSEC is affiliated to the National Energy Administration of China which authorized Tianjin University to be responsible for routine operation and management. A steering committee has been set up to deliberate major issues and plans and to hold plenary meetings annually. The chairman of the committee is the director of the National Energy Administration, vice-chairman is the deputy director in charge of international cooperation, executive vice-chairman is the president of Tianjin University, and the committees are responsible officials of the International Cooperation Department of the National Energy Administration and APSEC. Liaison officers of department level are appointed by the International Cooperation Department of the National Energy Administration. Tianjin University is to be responsible for routine communication and organization of meetings.