A coincidence of timing or a move worth taking a closer look at? While the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is going through the process of choosing who will lead the organization from 2027 , its current director general, Francesco La Camera , has just completed a mission to China with high-level meetings, praise for the renewable energy deployment of the Asian giant and an agreement that projects the relationship between both parties beyond his own term.
The Chamber began its journey by participating in the China-IRENA Cooperation Forum 2026 in Beijing . There, it defined the relationship with the country as a partnership built on mutual trust and highlighted that China had reached a new milestone: its installed solar photovoltaic capacity had already surpassed that of coal.
But the trip didn't end with just statements.
During his visit to the Chinese capital, he met with Wang Hongzhi , administrator of the National Energy Administration (NEA), and both parties signed a new China-IRENA Biennial Work Plan for 2027-2028 . He also met with Liu Mingsheng, president of State Power Investment Corporation, and with Yi Yuechun, director general of the China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute.
Next came Qinghai. The Camera met with the provincial governor and toured solar projects with storage and grid connection. Her message was once again explicit: she presented the province as a benchmark for systems capable of combining large-scale renewable energy sources, batteries, transmission networks, and 24/7 clean power supply.
So far, an international agenda consistent with the position. The calendar, however, adds another layer.
IRENA is selecting La Camera's successor after narrowing down 125 applications to ten candidates , including at least one from Latin America. Uruguayan Alfonso Blanco , former executive secretary of OLADE, publicly confirmed his inclusion in the shortlist.
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The discussion is not taking place in a geographical vacuum. During the preparation of the process, IRENA members themselves called for the selection to include more balanced regional representation, as well as experience, diplomatic skills, and knowledge of emerging economies.
Can the Asian tour then be interpreted as a wink?
There is currently no publicly available information linking the meetings of La Camera to support for any particular candidate. The identities of all the remaining candidates are also not publicly known.
But there is one fact that is difficult to separate from the context: China and IRENA have just signed a joint roadmap for 2027 and 2028 , precisely the first years of the administration of whoever succeeds the Italian.
And the definition is getting closer.
The 17th IRENA Assembly will be held from 9 to 11 January 2027 in Abu Dhabi and will include among its main decisions the selection and appointment of the next Director-General. The Agency itself has created a specific committee to conduct the process.
Meanwhile, La Camera has already left China and continued its Asia-Pacific tour with a stop in South Korea.
The question remains open: was Beijing simply another stop on IRENA's agenda, or did China just gain a particularly timely photo opportunity before the real succession negotiations begin?