When globalization evolves towards a new phase of value symbiosis, the narrative of Chinese companies expanding overseas is moving beyond simple market expansion to embrace a profound upgrade in substance. An increasing number of Chinese enterprises are integrating sustainable development principles into their daily operations while pursuing commercial success abroad, leveraging technology to empower local communities and building bridges of shared prosperity through responsibility.
This dialogue features She Haifeng, Vice President of Longi Green Energy Technology Co.,Ltd. (Longi), who shares the company's unique approach and commitment to its overseas markets. As a global leader in solar technology, Longi collaborates closely with international organizations like the UNHCR, systematically integrating innovative technology into humanitarian aid and community development frameworks. This provides sustainable energy security for refugees and host communities, exemplifying a new model for Chinese companies abroad that balances commercial and social value.
She Haifeng highlighted two core attributes of solar energy. First is its green attribute; as an energy form that effectively solves the "impossible trilemma," solar generates almost no pollution and involves minimal carbon emissions during use. Second is its fairness attribute; sunlight is almost equally available to everyone—wherever people live, the sun often shines. Consequently, solar energy inherently possesses characteristics of inclusivity and sharing.
He pointed out that envisioning a future powered by solar energy could enable human civilization to build upon a sustainable and relatively equitable energy foundation. Energy is the cornerstone of civilization, and solar power can help achieve genuine sustainable development while promoting energy equity. It is for this reason Longi advocates for the concept of "energy equity." He stressed that companies can shape new values through their technological capabilities during commercial development, uniting various stakeholders around a common vision to drive business growth.
She Haifeng noted that if overseas expansion focuses solely on exporting products or production capacity, business activities can appear overly commercialized, making it difficult to garner broad support from stakeholders. Successful projects often require support from governments, non-governmental organizations, and others; advancing through shared values can better integrate resources and gain acceptance.
He cited Longi's project at the Termez Humanitarian Logistics Centre in Uzbekistan as an example of how solar energy can inject sustainable power into critical infrastructure. Located in the Surkhandarya region on the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan border, an area plagued by constant sandstorms and ecological fragility, it is also a key area receiving Afghan refugees with significant humanitarian needs. There, Longi partnered with the UNHCR to implement a solar transformation of the Termez centre, aiming to support a more sustainable aid system with clean energy.
Since its establishment in 2021, the centre has served as a regional hub for the UNHCR's response to the situation in Afghanistan, storing and transporting supplies. The project's core involved building a 700 kW photovoltaic power station capable of generating approximately 990,000 kWh of clean electricity annually, equivalent to installing a stable and reliable "energy heart" for the centre. This not only reduces reliance on the traditional grid but is also projected to cut carbon emissions by about 495 metric tons per year and significantly save on electricity costs. The savings can be reinvested into local sustainable development projects.
The transformation is a significant milestone in promoting a global green supply chain and aligns with the UNHCR's goal to reduce carbon emissions from core relief and emergency operations by at least 30% by 2030. Utilizing Longi's advanced back-contact (BC) solar cell technology, the project provides reliable, efficient clean energy support to communities long suffering from electricity shortages.
The cooperation extends beyond power supply. In Surkhandarya, approximately 700 Afghan refugees and local residents participated in windbreak forestation projects supported by Longi. This improved the local ecology while providing income and employment opportunities, thereby enhancing community resilience. This initiative also aligns with a nationwide tree-planting program launched by the Uzbek government. The Termez centre has now become the first humanitarian logistics base within the UNHCR's global network to utilize Longi's renewable energy equipment. Here, clean energy not only changes how power is supplied but also becomes a vital force in protecting displaced persons and promoting regional sustainable development.
She Haifeng stated that one of the most meaningful aspects of Longi's overseas work is enabling the most vulnerable populations to access the cleanest and most efficient energy at the lowest cost. He illustrated this with a project at the Bolan Medical Complex in Pakistan's Balochistan province, which provides healthcare to many Afghan refugees and local residents. The hospital previously faced challenges with unstable power supply, affecting routine treatments and threatening life-saving equipment in intensive care units. In 2025, Longi collaborated with the UNHCR to complete a solar system upgrade for the hospital.
Solar power generation equipment was installed on the hospital buildings. The system is estimated to generate approximately 1.16 million kWh of electricity annually, meeting all the daily power needs of one of Balochistan's largest hospitals. Stable electricity means surgeries are no longer interrupted by sudden blackouts, ICU monitoring equipment runs continuously, and medicine refrigeration is secured. Additionally, the hospital saves about $400,000 annually on electricity bills, funds that can be redirected to purchase more medical supplies or support staff training.
The project's impact extends beyond healthcare. An annual reduction of 468 tons of carbon emissions contributes to local ecological protection. Importantly, persistent lighting after dark reduces the risk of gender-based violence, creating safer spaces for women and children among the refugee population. The reliable solar power system also ensures previously donated critical medical equipment, such as ICU beds and endoscopy systems, functions more stably, reducing downtime or maintenance issues caused by power outages. This solar transformation extends the inclusive benefits of clean energy to refugees and host communities, facilitating the sharing of development gains.
Discussing ecological protection prospects, She Haifeng expressed optimism. He indicated that solar technology points towards a clear and indisputable development path for humanity. Adopting it as a core energy solution will powerfully drive ecological restoration and improvement. Longi has developed clear renewable energy development plans for many countries and regions, systematically advancing a solar-driven future energy supply.
The significance of solar energy lies not only in meeting energy demand but also in tangibly participating in ecological restoration. For instance, in the Brazilian Amazon, climate vulnerability and displacement issues have long been intertwined. In 2025, Longi and the UNHCR launched the "Green Energy Empowering Vulnerable Communities in Brazil" project, introducing high-efficiency solar technology into the daily lives of marginalized groups, injecting new possibilities for regional sustainable development.
The project focuses on specific groups in the states of Pará and Roraima, including refugees, indigenous communities, and families affected by climate change. Brazil currently hosts over 887,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, plus more than 12,000 internally displaced indigenous people, most living in environmentally fragile areas of the Amazon region where stable energy supply is crucial for improving livelihoods.
As part of the collaboration, Longi donated high-efficiency BC solar equipment to local refugees and host communities for use in schools, medical posts, and community centres, providing stable clean energy for daily operations. Concurrently, photovoltaic skills training and sustainable livelihood programs were implemented to help vulnerable groups enhance their self-development capabilities.
In the academic sphere, Longi deployed a roughly 44 kW high-efficiency BC power generation system at the International Center of the Federal University of Pará. As a major public university and host of the COP30 People's Summit, this installation integrates clean energy concepts naturally into campus education and public spaces, fostering greater academic focus on climate action.
Furthermore, the Belém Sustainability Centre, co-funded by Longi and drawing on UNHCR experience from Roraima, was established through a multi-stakeholder partnership. The centre focuses on training community workers from the Warao indigenous community, with curricula covering environmental protection, climate change, and sustainable community development. These trainings provide tangible improvements in food security, vocational skills, and environmental awareness for refugees and host communities, protect traditional knowledge, and strengthen social protection networks.
She Haifeng concluded that for Chinese companies to genuinely earn trust and build a responsible image overseas, they must adhere to two core principles. First is "virtue finds support." Companies must go beyond pure commerce, consistently communicating a clear value proposition to governments, NGOs, and communities that their technology and products aim to serve and benefit local society. Active participation in community building and giving back through concrete actions helps create a social environment conducive to sustainable development, truly achieving broad support.
Second is "building new standards." Many regions have mature product systems, technical standards, and market rules in sectors like energy. Chinese companies venturing abroad should not merely adapt to existing systems but actively promote the establishment of broad new standards aligned with new energy trends—encompassing systemic reshaping of technology, markets, and even energy structures. In solar energy, simply selling products may still be constrained by traditional energy rules; real breakthrough involves participating in, or even leading, the reconstruction of new energy systems and standards.
Today, a growing number of Chinese companies expanding overseas are shifting towards deeply co-creating value with local societies while pursuing commercial objectives. By focusing on local needs, partnering with international organizations, and converting advanced technology into stable healthcare support, safer community living, and continuous ecological improvement, this locally rooted, community-benefiting approach provides replicable practical examples for global sustainable development and contributes a cooperative, empowerment-based solution to shared human challenges.
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