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Iron ore baron Andrew Forrest has urged China to help the world fight global warming by converting to renewable energy by the 2030s.
"Forget economic blocks, forget intergovernmental squabbles. They will be seen as short-sighted and visionless by our children if we do not act now," the executive chair of Fortescue Metals Group told a high-powered forum in Boao, China.
The green hydrogen champion said renewable electricity could meet all of China's base load energy needs.
Dr Forrest said it would lead to unprecedented economic growth, full employment and material improvement in the standard of living in China and throughout the world.
"China, more than any other country, can lead this decisive action ... your country can rapidly empower the global community to decarbonise in months and years, rather than years and decades," he said.
Leaders at the Boao forum include Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon, and the prime ministers of Singapore, Malaysia and Spain.
"Premier Li, you lead the world's premier supply chain," Dr Forrest said.
The Australian billionaire urged China to ensure the world had the enormous supply of equipment needed to fight global warming.
"You have the leadership, the capital and the massive technical and industrial base to make this happen."
He said China's next five-year plan would be the most important in the country's history - and for the world.
Marking 20 years of ties, Dr Forrest and senior Fortescue executives have been touring factories and meeting business leaders in Hunan, Shaanxi, Jiangsu and Beijing.
Dr Forrest and the firm's Global Green Ambassador Elizabeth Gaines will host a senior business leaders' forum on Friday, bringing together top Chinese and Australian executives.
