On 27 September 2017, a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between theEnergy Charter Secretariat(ECS) and the China Electricity Council (CEC) on the creation of the International Energy Charter-China Electricity Council Joint Research Centre. The establishment of the Research Centre is to be considered as a new milestone in the relationship between theInternational Energy CharterandChina, after the country signed the International Energy Charter in 2015 and thereby became observer to theEnergy Charter Conference.

The main purpose of the Research Centre is to deepen and share the knowledge of the International Energy Charter through research and public activities. Mr Yang Kun, Executive President of the CEC, and Ms Masami Nakata, Assistant-Secretary General of the Energy Charter Secretariat, emphasized that the Research Centre will promote the International Energy Charter and will serve China and the whole Asian region.