China is making "rapid progress in its transition to clean energy" and is "clearly leading the world" in the green transition, said the head of a leading Australian transport and logistics company, urging the world to look East for green development.
"I'm a huge fan of China!" Christine Holgate, CEO of Team Global Express, told Xinhua with palpable enthusiasm in a recent interview in Perth, the capital of Western Australia.
"I think their achievements are very important because people admire them and want to see real examples that actually work," he said, as reported by Xinhua.
"Ten years ago or more, no one would have expected this to happen, but the transformation has been so rapid," Holgate added.
As a frequent visitor to China and with many business partners there, Holgate has long admired the country's commitment to green development.
Holgate revealed that, as one of the most important delivery networks in Australia and New Zealand, Team Global Express is currently trialing a large-scale fleet of electric heavy-duty vehicles with assistance from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. He stressed that Australia should look to China for its proven strategy, and that the lessons to be learned extend beyond electric vehicles.
"The Chinese government is making a very determined effort. They've cut taxes, waived license plate fees, and even invested heavily in infrastructure to support electric vehicle charging. We in Australia still have quite a long way to go," he said.
"Now, new energy vehicles are coming in, supported by increasingly advanced technology and large-scale production. Australia can leverage that mass production from China. That allows us to really accelerate that adoption process," he continued.
Holgate shared what he has learned from two major Chinese transportation companies about how they are leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to plan vehicle space and routes.
"It's not just about electrification. As we go through that process, we have to figure out how we can do things more intelligently and efficiently," Holgate emphasized.
Holgate also noted that Chinese companies are leading the way in leveraging social media to understand consumers. "If we can apply that thinking and processes to large-scale, heavy-duty infrastructure companies, it will deliver better outcomes for customers."
A veteran of the logistics industry, Holgate is equally impressed by China's efforts to leverage e-commerce to alleviate poverty and achieve balanced regional development.
He sees direct parallels for Australia, where 28 percent of the population lives in regional areas and often pays higher prices for goods. He said it was “about creating a sustainable future for our country.”
"The rise of cross-border e-commerce has enabled many Australians to benefit from lower costs on a wide range of products, and that's a real help to Australian mothers and fathers amidst global cost-of-living pressures," Holgate said.
Recognizing that Western markets have much to learn from China, Holgate expressed his strong belief that foreign observers need to visit the country in person to listen, observe, and learn.
