Coal plays an important role in global electricity supply. The Asia-Pacific region concentrates approximately 30% of the world's coal resource reserves and 70% of coal production. The endowment of coal resources, along with their good availability and cost-effectiveness, determine that coal-fired power will remain a crucial primary energy source for the world, especially Asia-Pacific economies, for a considerable period in the future. More than half of the future growth in global coal-fired power supply will come from Asia-Pacific economies. Coal-fired power generation technology has certain technical demand and development space in the APEC region, particularly in Southeast Asia.

Against the international trend of low-carbon development and green economy, countries worldwide are actively accelerating the development of clean energy sources such as renewable energy, while improving energy efficiency and reducing CO2 emissions through energy conservation and enhanced clean utilization of fossil fuels.

China is the world's largest producer and consumer of coal. The Chinese government is advancing the 'Four Revolutions and One Cooperation' in energy (i.e., energy consumption revolution, energy supply revolution, energy technology revolution, energy system revolution, and strengthening all-round international cooperation). While vigorously developing clean energy sources such as renewable energy and conducting research, development, and demonstration of carbon capture, storage, and utilization (CCS/CCUS) technologies, China is also actively promoting the development and application of clean coal technologies to enhance the clean and efficient utilization of coal. Multiple clean coal technologies have reached the forefront of the world, making significant contributions to China's energy conservation, emission reduction, and solving regional pollution problems. With strong national policy support and technological innovation leadership, China has continuously improved the clean and efficient utilization level of coal-fired power and built the world's largest clean coal-fired power supply system.

To more deeply participate in global energy and environmental governance, in September 2014, the Chinese government established the APEC Sustainable Energy Development Center (APSEC) under the APEC mechanism. In September 2018, APSEC and the National Energy Group jointly established the Joint Operation Center for Asia-Pacific Clean Coal Technology Transfer (CCT Joint Operation Center). The main work of the CCT Joint Operation Center is to summarize the achievements and development experience of China's clean coal technology applications and share them with APEC economies and the world. In May 2019, the CCT Joint Operation Center organized a group of renowned experts from Chinese universities, design institutes, and enterprises to conduct training on clean coal technologies and clean energy policies for energy management officials and technical researchers from APEC coal-using economies. The training systematically introduced China's concepts, ideas, technological routes, and relevant cases in developing clean coal technologies. It aimed to provide experience reference for APEC economies, especially developing economies, to address environmental issues caused by coal utilization, and to explore possible technological pathways for low-carbon utilization of high-carbon energy together with APEC economies through the summary and exchange of clean energy policies and clean coal technology experiences.