“I want to buy a Chinese electric vehicle!” Exclusive interview with two former leaders of developed countries: how to respond to the Middle East energy crisis

In recent days, the escalation of the U.S.-Iran war has triggered a global surge in energy prices, impacting the global economy.

During the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2026, reporters from the Daily Economic News (hereinafter referred to as NBD) conducted exclusive interviews with former Slovenian President Tuerk and former New Zealand Prime Minister Shipley. Slovenia is a member of the European Union and a high-income economy, while New Zealand is a developed economy within the Commonwealth. Both countries are recognized as developed economies by international organizations such as the United Nations and the IMF (International Monetary Fund).

Both of these former leaders from developed countries expressed deep concern about the current tensions in the Middle East pushing energy prices higher, believing there is an urgent need for an energy transition, and highly recognizing China’s global leadership in the fields of photovoltaics and new energy vehicles.

Tuerk further stated, “I currently drive a Toyota, previously drove a Volvo, and in the future, I plan to switch to an electric vehicle, definitely choosing a Chinese brand, as there are many models to choose from.”

AI is driving exponential growth in energy demand, necessitating exploration of more solutions in the photovoltaic sector.

NBD: How do you view the impact of the U.S.-Iran war on the global energy landscape? Will it accelerate the global transition away from fossil fuels?

Shipley: Due to the situation in the Middle East, there is widespread concern globally about the continuous rise in energy prices. What concerns me more is what is fundamentally driving the increase in energy demand. Currently, one significant reason is the explosion of AI (artificial intelligence) and the digital industry. Data centers require massive amounts of electricity, and in the future, quantum computing will lead to exponential, doubling growth in energy demand. Countries are competing to attract data centers, further driving up energy prices.

We see that China has not only made breakthroughs in new energy technologies like nuclear power but is also a global leader in solar technology. Many countries, including New Zealand, are building solar power plants using Chinese technology. New energy not only provides new energy supply but also aligns closely with sustainable development, which is crucial for the future energy landscape.

It is undeniable that the current rise in energy prices has made it difficult for some governments and people to cope. Therefore, the tech community needs to develop greener, more cost-effective technologies that can produce more energy with the same or even fewer resources. In this regard, we see that China’s economic and social development has led to more electricity and energy consumption, but at the same time, its innovation capability in new energy is strong, and overall development is relatively balanced. Therefore, in the context of international energy landscape turbulence, we hope to hear more Chinese voices and see more Chinese solutions.

Tuerk: Regarding the rise in oil prices, this is a situation no one wants to see, and it shouldn’t have happened. Essentially, it is a significant mistake. The rise in oil prices is an adverse consequence of the military actions taken by the U.S. and Israel against Iran. The turmoil in the Middle East is something the whole world does not want to see; the international community truly hopes for a ceasefire and stabilization of the oil market.

Although we have been vigorously developing photovoltaics, renewable energy, and other new energy sources, the world’s dependence on oil remains very high, so we must remain cautious regarding energy issues.

China is a global leader in the photovoltaic sector, both in terms of production capacity and the practical application level of photovoltaic technology, ranking among the top in the world. I have personally visited places like the Kubuqi Desert and seen a large number of solar panels and photovoltaic projects being constructed locally, while also planting many trees to combat desertification. This not only effectively addresses desertification and improves the ecological environment but also promotes agricultural development and protects northern cities in China. Therefore, we should rely on photovoltaic products and technology to explore more comprehensive utilization solutions, and China has already taken the lead in this regard.

I believe the current issue is that China and the EU need to reach a consensus on the cooperation and application of photovoltaic products, coordinating their domestic production capacities, and both sides need to further explore the capacity issue in depth.

The situation in the Middle East is leading to rising fuel costs, significantly impacting low- and middle-income families.

NBD: The Middle East crisis has led to an increase in international oil prices. What considerations do you have regarding your country’s energy security?

Shipley: New Zealand’s economy currently relies heavily on exports. We have a population of about 5 million, and the products produced domestically far exceed our own needs, with a significant amount needing to be exported worldwide. Therefore, the supply chain is crucial for us, especially fuel supply, which is of utmost importance to New Zealand.

The rise in international crude oil prices has led to an increase in domestic gasoline and diesel prices, significantly impacting low- and middle-income families in New Zealand. To address this, the government has launched a “supplementary payment” program to provide subsidies for a year to help these families cope with the life pressures brought about by rising fuel prices. Following the tensions in the Middle East, fuel costs have risen further, making such subsidies essential for maintaining people’s daily lives.

At the same time, we are also working with global partners to stabilize the supply chain. Although New Zealand’s stance on the Middle East issue has been relatively low-key, we have always voiced our position responsibly, calling on all parties to remain calm, increase cooperation, and seek solutions together.

NBD: You just mentioned that the energy crisis in the Middle East has made everyone aware of the importance of energy transition. Is energy transition a “mandatory topic” for the EU, including your country?

Tuerk: First, it must be clarified that the EU needs not only services and agriculture but also industrial products. Promoting industrial manufacturing and modernization is an important direction for the EU’s future development. From a long-term geopolitical perspective, the EU will remain an important center for manufacturing cooperation and markets with China, so China and the EU should not only focus on competition but also emphasize policy-level coordination and cooperation.

My strong impression during this visit to China is that the development of electric vehicles in China is robust and has great potential not only in China but also in Europe. Therefore, energy transition is a must-answer question for the EU. China and the EU urgently need to establish a cooperative framework at the technical level to better promote the development of the electric vehicle industry and drive the development of related fields like the labor market.

I believe current policies still have shortcomings. Chinese electric vehicles have successfully entered the European market; for example, in Slovenia, locals were almost unaware of Chinese car brands in the past, but now more and more people are driving electric vehicles made in China. Therefore, Chinese electric vehicles have every reason to go global, but how to manage and achieve balanced development during this process requires the joint efforts of companies from both China and the EU to establish corresponding cooperation frameworks.

As the former President of Slovenia, I previously drove a Volvo, sold it after living in the U.S. for a long time, and bought a Toyota upon returning to Slovenia. In the future, I plan to switch to an electric vehicle, and I will definitely choose a Chinese brand, as there are many models to choose from.

The new energy vehicle market has huge potential, and cooperation between China and the EU is the only way forward.

NBD: You just mentioned that you plan to switch to an electric vehicle in the future. In Slovenia, have people felt the pressure from rising oil prices?

Tuerk: My family and I are not very dependent on fuel vehicles because we live in the city center, and I generally walk to work. However, overall, Slovenia’s dependency on cars remains high, and many people care about whether they can own a car, a situation that is unlikely to change in the future. Therefore, we are still very sensitive to oil prices and oil supply.

Although Slovenia has ample oil reserves, the government has stated that people need not worry, but sometimes the public does not fully believe this statement. It is undeniable that the rise in oil prices has been passed on to consumers. In our country, the real headache is for those who need to commute long distances; many Slovenians live in small towns or rural areas and must drive to work daily, so rising oil prices significantly affect them.

Additionally, agricultural production is also highly dependent on fuel; tractors and other agricultural machinery require gasoline and diesel, and farmers are beginning to worry about whether fuel supplies will be sufficient, which could impact normal farming operations.

NBD: Based on your statements, Europe has indeed been contemplating the energy transition issue. As China and the EU have made some progress in electric vehicle discussions this year, how do you view the potential of Chinese new energy vehicles in Europe, including the Slovenian market?

Tuerk: I am not an expert in the new energy vehicle sector, but I can clearly see that the market demand for new energy vehicles in Europe continues to grow, which is undoubtedly a positive signal and will largely address the pressures brought by rising oil prices on governments and people. But the key lies in how to manage the market in a regulated and orderly manner.

Chinese leaders have also emphasized repeatedly that cooperation must adhere to mutual benefit and win-win principles. It should benefit both China and Europe, and China and the EU should jointly explore win-win cooperation paths, always guided by a win-win mindset.

It is undeniable that the market potential for new energy vehicles is huge. During the cooperation process, there may inevitably be tendencies of conservatism and exclusivity, but this is by no means the correct way to solve problems. I firmly believe that both China and the EU will definitely find reasonable and feasible cooperation solutions in the future.

Daily Economic News

(Edited by Guo Jiandong)

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