The Seventh China-EU Ministerial Dialogue on Environmental Policy was held in Beijing

On April 1, the Seventh China-EU Dialogue of Ministers of Environmental Policy was held in Beijing. Li Ganjie, Minister of Ecological Environment, and Karmenu Vera, member of the European Commission on Environment, Marine Affairs and Fisheries, attended the Dialogue. Wang Yajing, Journalist of China Environmental Daily

Du Xuanyi, a reporter of China Environment Daily, reported in Beijing on April 1 that the seventh China-EU Dialogue of Ministers of Environmental Policy was held in Beijing today. Li Ganjie, Minister of Ecological Environment, and Karmenu Weila, member of the European Commission on Environment, Marine Affairs and Fisheries, jointly attended the Dialogue.

Li Ganjie and Weila spoke positively of the progress made in China-EU environmental cooperation and affirmed the important role played by China-EU environmental cooperation in promoting bilateral relations. The two sides held in-depth discussions on biodiversity conservation, solid waste and chemical management, marine environmental protection, pollution prevention and control and environmental governance, and international cooperation around sustainable development goals.

Li Ganjie highlighted the new progress of China's ecological environmental protection work. He said that the past 2018 was an important milestone in the history of China's ecological civilization construction and ecological environment protection. The National Conference on ecological environmental protection was held successfully, and Xi Jinping's ecological civilization was formally established. The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council issued the Opinions on Enhancing the Protection of the Ecological Environment in an All-round Way and Fighting the Strong Battle of Pollution Prevention and Control resolutely. A new Ministry of Ecology and Environment has been set up to unify the functions of supervision and administrative law enforcement on ecological and urban and rural pollution discharge. The first session of the 13th National People's Congress voted to adopt the amendment to the Constitution, which included the requirements of implementing the new development concept, promoting ecological civilization and building a beautiful China.

Li Ganjie said that over the past year, China has steadfastly promoted the battle for the protection of blue sky, clear water and clean land, and the quality of the ecological environment has been continuously improved. All targets in the field of ecological environment have satisfactorily completed the annual plan and met the timing requirements of the 13th Five-Year Plan. Next, China will stick to its position, consolidate its achievements, keep its direction, determination and strength unshakable, focus on winning the battle to defend the blue sky, tackle pollution from diesel trucks, urban black and odorous waters, comprehensively harness the Bohai Sea, protect and repair the Yangtze River, protect water sources and harness pollution from agriculture and rural areas, further improve the quality of the ecological environment, and coordinate efforts to promote high-quality economic development. High level protection of ecological environment.

Li Ganjie pointed out that China-EU environmental cooperation is an important component of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership. Over the years, the two sides have carried out pragmatic exchanges and cooperation in various fields, such as air pollution control, green growth, climate change and circular economy, and have made positive contributions to promoting environmental governance and sustainable development in Central Europe and even in the world. Looking forward to the future, China looks forward to working with the European side to deepen communication and exchanges, strengthen coordination and cooperation, enrich the connotation of cooperation, upgrade the level of cooperation and join hands in striding into a new era of Sino-European environmental cooperation.

Weila introduced the latest progress of EU in the field of ecological environment protection, and highly appraised the achievements of China-EU environmental cooperation. He said that the European side would like to carry out more in-depth exchanges with China, and further cooperation in tackling climate change, preventing and controlling marine pollution, developing circular economy and protecting biodiversity, so as to bring new experience and set a new example for global environmental governance.

After the meeting, Li Ganjie and Weila jointly signed the summary of the 7th China-EU Ministerial Dialogue on Environmental Policy.