BEIJING: China’s Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu has reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to maintaining close communication and deepening cooperation with the European Union on major issues in international multilateral processes.
He made the remarks during a meeting with Teresa Ribera, executive vice-president of the European Commission, on the sidelines of the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, or COP17, according to a media release from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment on Thursday.
The biennial UN biodiversity conference is being held in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, under the theme “Taking Action for Nature” and runs through Oct 30.
During the meeting, the two sides held in-depth discussions on the China-EU High-Level Environment and Climate Dialogue, global biodiversity conservation, negotiations on an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, and the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, known as COP31, the ministry said. Huang said China and the EU have maintained sound cooperation in environmental protection and climate action for many years. The establishment of the China-EU High-Level Environment and Climate Dialogue has provided an important platform for strengthening bilateral cooperation and jointly advancing global multilateral processes, he said.
China is ready to work with the EU to implement the key consensus reached through the dialogue mechanism, advance priority tasks and contribute to improving the global environmental and climate governance system, Huang said.
He added that China and the EU, as important participants in international multilateral processes, should continue to enhance communication and deepen cooperation on major issues, including implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, negotiations on an international instrument to end plastic pollution, and the response to climate change.
Adopted at COP15 in late 2022 under China’s presidency, the framework sets four long-term goals for 2050 and 23 action-oriented global targets for 2030. One target calls for at least 30 percent of degraded terrestrial, inland water, marine and coastal ecosystems to be under effective restoration by 2030.
Huang also expressed hope that China and the EU would support positive outcomes at COP17 and COP31 and work together to build a clean, beautiful and sustainable world.
Ribera spoke highly of China’s achievements in ecological and environmental protection and climate action, as well as its role in international environmental and climate negotiations and its open and candid approach to the talks, according to the ministry.
She said she looked forward to the China-EU High-Level Environment and Climate Dialogue continuing to facilitate in-depth exchanges and help advance global priorities, including climate action, biodiversity conservation and plastic pollution control. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
