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With accelerated globalization and the integration of regional economy, regional environmental problems become more and more pre-eminent. Regional cooperation on environmental protection has provided a good opportunity and platform for joint participation in environmental protection by each country and effective addressing of regional environmental problems. To implement the consensus of sustainable development reached at WSSD and the Millennium Development Goals, as a big country for regional development, China actively takes part in regional environmental protection activities and plays a positive and constructive role in regional environmental affairs. In according with the overall foreign policy of "amicable, secure and prosperous neighborhood", China has actively promoted regional environmental cooperation in the principle of equality, practical spirit and openness.
Tripartite Environmental Ministers Meeting (TEMM) among China, Japan and Korea
In order to implement the initiative of strengthening environmental cooperation and dialogues put forth at the First Summit Meeting of China, Japan and Korea in 1999, China, Japan and Korea kicked off the mechanism of Tripartite Environmental Ministers Meeting (TEMM) in the same year to solve common environmental problems of the region and promote sustainable development. TEMM has carried out cooperation and dialogue in such fields as circular economy, joint study on regional mechanism of Northeast Asian cooperation, study on environment and trade of the free trade region of China, Japan and South Korea, environmental education network and environmental human resources development plan of the three countries, ecological conservation of Norwest China, protection of fresh water resources, and environment-friendly industry and gained substantial achievements. Up to the end of 2006, TEMM been held eight times, and China hosted the second, fifth and eighth meeting in 2000, 2003 and 2006 respectively. At present, China, Japan and South Korea are carrying out cooperation on the monitoring of dust and sand storms.
Minister Zhou Shengxian attended the Eighth TEMM in Beijing in November, 2006
China-EU Environmental Cooperation
China and EU have actively devoted efforts to promoting environmental cooperation. At the fourth China-EU Summit Meeting, the two sides agreed to establish China-EU Ministerial Dialogue on Environmental Policy and Cooperation. The First China-EU Environment Minister Policy Dialogue Meeting was held in Beijing in November 2003. The Second China-EU Ministerial Dialogue on Environmental Policy and Cooperation was held in EU Headquarters, Brussels in June 2005. The two sides have carried out specific cooperation projects in such fields as conservation of biodiversity, energy, environmental management, control of vehicle emission and capacity building with positive achievements.
Environmental Ministers Meeting between ASEAN and China, Japan and Korea (10 + 3)
In order to promote the cooperation in the field of environment among ASEAN and the three countries of China, Japan and Korea, ASEAN recommended to hold ASEAN+3 Environmental Ministers Meeting at the ASEAN and China, Japan and Korea Summit Meeting held in November 2002. The recommendation was echoed by China, Japan and Korea. ASEAN+3 Environmental Ministers Meeting is held annually since 2003.
China is contiguous to several ASEAN countries, and has always attached importance to environmental cooperation with ASEAN. With ASEAN+3 Environmental Ministers Meeting, the two sides expressed their interests in policy dialogues and cooperation in such fields as natural resources conservation, water resources conservation, ocean environment, environmental technology training and public participation, wetland, forestry ecological system and bio-diversity conservation, clean production and the prevention and control of trans-boundary pollution with ASEAN member countries. Later, China and ASEAN countries have conducted their cooperation in such fields as EIA, environmental publicity and education as well as clean production.
Environmental Cooperation in the Greater-Mekong Sub-region
The Economic Cooperation in the Greater-Mekong Sub-region (GMS) is a sub-regional economic cooperation mechanism initiated by Asian Development Bank (ADB) in 1992 and is participated by six countries alongshore the Lantsang-Mekong River including China, Vietnam, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand. The first GMS Environment Ministers Meeting was held in Shanghai in May, 2005. The Meeting approved the Joint Declaration of Environment Ministers of GMS which reflects the determination of these countries in strengthening environmental cooperation. Under this framework, the has been approved by the Second GMS Summit on Economic Cooperation held in 2005. Among them, the GMS Biodiversity Protection Corridor Program has entered the implementation stage of demonstration project.
ASEM Environment Ministers' Meeting
The Environment Ministers' Meeting (EMM) of Asia and Europe is one of the cooperation activities under the framework of Asia-Europe Summit Meeting (ASEM). The Environment Ministers¡¯ Meeting of ASEM was initiated by the Government of China at the Third ASEM Summit held in Seoul, Korea in October 2000, with extensive support from leaders of other ASEM members.
As the initiator, China held the First EMM in January 2002, which adopted the Chairman's Statement of Environment Ministers' Meeting. The participating countries reached basic consensus on the foundation, potential and cooperation principles in implementing Asia-Europe environmental cooperation. Italy held the second EMM and Denmark held the Third EMM.
Environmental Cooperation of Shanghai Cooperation Organization
China sent a delegation to attend the preparation meeting for the First Environment Minister Meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization held in Moscow in September 2005. This marks the formal initiation of environmental cooperation of Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The Meeting has signed the Minute of the Meeting. All member countries agreed that strengthening environmental cooperation will promote the common efforts in environmental protection and rational utilization of natural resources. The First Environment Minister Meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization was held in Moscow.
China-Africa and China-Arab Environmental Cooperation
China-Africa and China-Arab environmental cooperation is an important measure to deepen the traditional friendship between China, African and Arab countries and enrich the contents of China-Africa Forum on Cooperation and China-Arab Forum on Cooperation. As a developing country, China has provided its support within its power to the building of capacity of African and Arab countries in environmental protection. Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan attended China-Africa Conference on Environment Cooperation in Nairobi in February of 2005. He officially declared the launching of China-Africa environmental cooperation process. In June 2006, Minister Zhou Shengxian of SEPA, on behalf of the Chinese Government, signed the Joint Communique of China and the League of Arab States on Environmental Cooperation with Mr. Moussa, Secretary General of the League of Arab States in Beijing, which commits to the enhancement of bilateral cooperation in the field of environment. UNEP regards the environmental partnership between China and Africa and Arab countries as the model for south-south cooperation in environmental field.
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| Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan attended China-Africa Conference on Environment Cooperation in Kenya in Feb. 2005. |
Minister Zhou Shengxian signed Joint Communique of China and the League of Arab States on Environmental Cooperation with Mr. Moussa, Secretary General of League of Arab States in June 2006. |
Training course for senior environmental officials of developing countries |
In addition, China has reached common understanding with other regional organizations on strengthening environmental cooperation. To implement the common understanding, China has actively promoted and participated in many cooperation mechanisms on regional environmental protection (See the following table).
|
Name |
Beginning time |
Member |
Level |
Cooperation range |
|
ECO Asia |
1991 |
Countries in Asia and Pacific Region |
Minister |
Policy dialogue |
|
Northeast Asia Conference on Environmental Cooperation (NEAC) |
1992 |
China, Japan, South Korea, Russia and Mongolia |
Senior Official |
Environment management and information exchange |
|
NEASPEC |
1993 |
China, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Mongolia and Russia |
Senior Official |
Environmental project cooperation and training |
|
NOWPAP |
1994 |
China, Japan, South Korea, and Russia |
Senior Official |
Ocean and offshore environmental protection |
|
EANET |
1998 |
China, Japan, Mongolia, South Korea, Russia and some ASEAN countries |
Senior Official |
Acid precipitation monitoring and data sharing |
|
China and OECD |
2003 |
China and OECD |
¡¡ |
Environmental exchange and project cooperation |
|
AECEN |
2004 |
China and 7 other Asian countries |
Senior Official |
Promote the improvement of environmental laws in Asia and provide a regional platform |
|
CAREC |
2006 |
China and Central Asia countries |
Senior Official |
Policy dialogue and project cooperation |
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