Calls for strengthened international partnerships took center stage on the opening day of the World Gas Conference (WGC) in Beijing, as industry leaders and policymakers emphasized collective action to address energy security, affordability and climate goals.

The speakers emphasized the importance of gas as a crucial transitional fuel amid increasing pressure to shift the global energy landscape from fossil fuel dominance to a new energy paradigm.

The conference, dubbed the "Olympics of the gas sector", has drawn over 3,000 delegates and over 30,000 professional visitors from 70 countries to discuss natural gas' strategic role in global decarbonization. The four-day event is being hosted by the International Gas Union (IGU) and marks the conference's first landing in China.

Meg O'Neill, CEO of Australia's Woodside Energy, highlighted rising energy demand driven by population and GDP growth, particularly in emerging economies. She said the supply challenge lies in delivering abundant, cost-competitive energy while addressing emissions — a role where natural gas is pivotal.

Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Taufik, president and group CEO of Malaysia's Petronas, noted challenges in the gas field market in Asia due to income disparities and affordability challenges. He said China's leading investments in natural gas, integral to its energy transition, offered references for global practices.

China's gas consumption has surged from below 200 billion cubic meters a decade ago to more than 426.05 billion cubic meters in 2024, with an 8.4 percent average annual growth rate, according to IGU data. Gas now accounts for 9 percent of China's energy mix.

Dai Houliang, chairman of State-owned China National Petroleum Corp, described gas as a "clean, efficient energy source central to green transition and global energy stability." He outlined plans to minimize emissions across gas production and use, accelerate integration with renewables and promote localized gas-fired power projects.

He said CNPC will also prioritize cross-disciplinary research and development to advance technologies like carbon capture, utilization and storage.

"Strengthening multilateral trade systems, expanding infrastructure connectivity and collectively enhancing supply chain resilience, are vital to the industry's sustainable development," he added.

Dai said CNPC is committed to further engaging in global climate governance and supporting global carbon neutrality objectives, showcasing its green accomplishments to benefit a broader range of countries and users.

Wan Jinsong, deputy head of the National Energy Administration, noted significant progress in gas infrastructure in China, including a near-complete national pipeline network and breakthroughs in deepwater and unconventional resource extraction.

"Further efforts are expected to foster global collaboration under four pillars: ensuring energy access, prioritizing ecology, digitalizing energy systems, and improving multilateral governance," Wan said.

"We need to uphold open cooperation and mutual benefit, working together to build a safe, efficient, clean and low-carbon global energy system," he said.

IGU Chair Li Yalan said that in the face of multiple challenges such as climate change, energy security and geopolitical issues, natural gas, with its abundant resources, cleanliness, efficiency and cost-effectiveness, is becoming an indispensable pillar in the global energy mix.

"As the world's largest importer of natural gas and liquefied natural gas, China's development experience is increasingly drawing international attention," she said.