From 2003 to 2017, the majority of China's foreign power investments in Southeast Asia went to hydro ($45 billion) and coal ($12 billion) projects, amounts significantly higher than Chinese wind investment in the European Union ($6.8 billion) and Australia ($5 billion). China has become a major investor in the global renewable energy sector , having pumped $ 44bn into new energy technology and resources last year up from $ 32bn in 2016 , according to figures from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis ( IEEFA ) . Private and state - owned Chinese companies are capitalising on the rapidly growing renewable energy sector , while China 's global leadership in that category aligns with the country ’s ambitions to boost its worldwide economic influence . Although investment has increased in countries linked to its Belt and Road System , most of China 's renewable investments are outside those areas .
China has become a major investor in the global renewable energy sector , having pumped $ 44bn into new energy technology and resources last year up from $ 32bn in 2016 , according to figures from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis ( IEEFA ) . Private and state - owned Chinese companies are capitalising on the rapidly growing renewable energy sector , while China 's global leadership in that category aligns with the country ’s ambitions to boost its worldwide economic influence . Although investment has increased in countries linked to its Belt and Road System , most of China 's renewable investments are outside those areas .