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China is pursuing a development model that combines economic growth with carbon reduction by encouraging the adoption of new-energy vehicles through a mix of incentives and restrictions on conventional fuel-powered cars, a Chinese scholar said on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.
Speaking during the Global Development Initiative-International Media Youth Training Programme, Xiong Li Li, a professor at the University of International Business and Economics, said the country’s green transition is designed not to slow economic development but to make it more sustainable.
Addressing journalists from the Global South countries, Xiong said China has placed increasing emphasis on renewable energy and electric mobility as part of its strategy to achieve economic growth while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Using Beijing as an example, he explained that owners of conventional fuel-powered vehicles are prohibited from driving on one weekday each week, depending on the last digit of their license plate.
Drivers who violate the restriction face a 200-yuan fine when captured by traffic cameras.
If they continue driving after four hours and are detected again, they incur another 200-yuan fine, meaning a commuter could pay 400 yuan in a single day.
“For most Chinese people, paying 400 yuan in one day is too expensive,” Xiong said, explaining that the policy encourages motorists to consider new-energy vehicles instead.
He noted that drivers of new-energy vehicles are exempt from the restrictions, allowing them to use their cars every day without facing penalties.
Xiong said the lower cost of electricity compared with gasoline further supports the transition, making electric vehicles significantly cheaper to operate than traditional fuel-powered cars.
“The Chinese government wants to continue economic development while achieving the goal of carbon reduction through the green economy,” he said.
According to Xiong, the combination of regulatory measures, lower operating costs for electric vehicles and continued investment in clean energy demonstrates how China is attempting to balance environmental protection with economic expansion rather than treating the two objectives as competing priorities.
The Global Development Initiative-International Media Youth Training Program is a 10-day exchange that has brought together journalists from developing countries to discuss China’s development experience, economic policies and international cooperation.
By Winston Mwale, AfricaBrief