Australian logistics CEO calls China's green development a 'real example'

China has made ‘rapid progress in the transition to clean energy’ and is ‘genuinely leading the world’ in the green transition, according to the head of a leading Australian transport and logistics company, who urged the world to look East for green development. ‘I am a huge fan of China!’ Christine Holgate, CEO of Team Global Express, told Xinhua with visible 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 a real example that actually works,’ she said. ‘Ten years ago or so, no one would have predicted this would happen, but the transformation has been so rapid,’ Holgate added. A frequent visitor to China with many business partners there, Holgate has long admired the country’s commitment to green development. Holgate revealed that, as one of the largest delivery networks in Australia and New Zealand, Team Global Express is currently trialling a large-scale fleet of heavy electric vehicles with assistance from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. She stressed that Australia should look to China for proven strategies, and that the lessons extend beyond just electric vehicles. ‘The Chinese government has made a very concerted effort. They cut taxes, waived vehicle number plate fees, and even invested heavily in infrastructure to support electric vehicle charging. We in Australia still have quite a way to go,’ she said. ‘Now, (China’s) new energy vehicles are starting to come in, backed by increasingly advanced technology and large-scale production. Australia can leverage that mass production from China. It allows us to really accelerate the adoption process,’ she continued. Holgate shared what she has learned from two major Chinese transport companies about how they use artificial intelligence to plan vehicle space and routes. ‘It is not just about electrification. As we go through that process, we have to figure out how we can do things smarter and more efficiently,’ Holgate stressed. Holgate also said that Chinese companies are leading in using social media to understand consumers. ‘If we can apply that thinking and those processes to heavy, large-scale infrastructure companies, it will deliver better outcomes for customers.’ As a veteran of the logistics industry, Holgate is equally impressed by China’s efforts to use e-commerce to alleviate poverty and achieve balanced regional development. She sees a direct parallel for Australia, where 28 per cent of the population lives in regional areas and often pays higher prices for goods. She said this is ‘about delivering a sustainable future for our country.’ ‘The emergence of cross-border e-commerce has allowed many Australians to enjoy the benefits of lower costs for a wide range of products, and it has actually really helped Australian mums and dads amid the global cost-of-living pressures,’ Holgate said. Recognising that Western markets have much to learn from China, Holgate expressed her strong belief that foreign observers need to visit the country in person to listen, observe, and learn.