Brussels, 14/10/2015 (Agence Europe) - Karmenu Vella, European commissioner for the environment, maritime affairs and fisheries, is currently on his first official visit to China (12-15 October) to enhance EU/China cooperation in the fields of ocean governance, the efficient use of resources and the green economy.
During his meeting on Tuesday 13 October in Beijing, with Chen Jining, the Chinese minister for environmental protection, the Commissioner welcomed China's adoption of revised legislation on environmental protection, the prevention and monitoring of air pollution and its action plan for preventing and monitoring water pollution.
China intends to draw up an environmental protection and conservation programme over the next five years. Minister Chen expressed his interest in the ongoing revision of EU legislation on air quality and environmental protection (Habitats and Birds directives). The two partners welcomed the adoption of the UN sustainable development programme that now needed implementing.
This first meeting enabled Vella and Chen to discuss future developments in EU/China dialogue and cooperation, in an effort to consolidate the development of the green and circular economy, low in carbon emissions, which would help pave the way to building a more ecological civilisation. The next bilateral political dialogue meeting on the environment will take place in Brussels in 2016. The two parties have agreed to step up their exchanges, share experience on environmental governance, as well as their policies and respective incentives for green development and efficient use of resources, as a means of guaranteeing that structural reforms in Europe and China lead to sustainable development. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)