Synergizing Green and Digital Transition & China's Practice
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The Green Sustainable Development Conference (2022) and China-EU High-Level Forum on Sustainable Development was held on December 10th-11th in Taicang, Jiangsu Province, to promote China-Europe climate action and sustainable development cooperation. The conference was jointly hosted by the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs and the China Society of Industrial Economics, and organized by the China-EU Carbon Neutrality Cooperation Office (CECCO), the Center for International Economic and Technological Cooperation of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
Under the theme of "Synergizing Green and Digital Transition & China's Practice", the Conference launched the China-EU Carbon Neutrality Innovation Cooperation Pilot Projects, conducted themed discussions in the Symposium on "Digitalization Drives Green Sustainable Development" and China-Europe Carbon Neutral City Forum, and launched the "Earth Aspiration Action (E2A) Initiative".
Witnessed by Chinese and European leaders, cooperation agreements were signed by international organizations, Chinese and European governments and enterprises, to establish the China-EU Green and Digital Innovation (Taicang) Cooperation Zone, implement the China-EU Carbon Neutrality Innovation Cooperation (Taicang) Pilot Project, in a bid to explore a green and sustainable development model shared by China and Europe, build a diversified China-Europe partnership network and promote the application and promotion of China-EU Carbon Neutrality Innovation Cooperation Pilot Projects. Certificates were issued to 28 projects (as shown below) from China and Europe selected for 2022 and MOUs were signed. Partners came from 13 countries and regions around the world, including China, the European Union, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Finland.
The China-EU Carbon Neutrality Cooperation Office (CECCO) launched the Annual Report on China-EU Green and Low-Carbon Industrial Cooperation, jointly with global partners including Roland Berger. The Report will keep track of the latest progress and identify development trends in carbon neutrality policies, technologies, standards, projects and financing mechanisms in China and Europe. Implementation of China-EU Carbon Neutrality Pilot Projects will be assessed, and outstanding cooperation cases for global promotion will be showcased, so as to inspire new ideas for the development and cooperation between Chinese and European stakeholders.
©China Green Sustainable Development Association (CGSDA)
The "Earth Aspiration Action (E2A) Initiative" was jointly launched by more than 40 Chinese and European government agencies, social organizations, research institutes, financial institutions and leading enterprises from China, Germany, France, Italy, Denmark, Switzerland and other countries. The E2A Initiative aims to: build up a network of international partners; join hands to build and share green digital infrastructure; support the research community to play a key role in synergizing green and digital transition and encourage the younger generation to be important participants and future leaders in sustainable development.
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The Conference conducted themed exchanges and discussions in the Symposium on Digitalization Drives Green Sustainable Development. The Symposium invited leading institutions from China and Europe, and the discussion focused on green digitalization transition in urban planning, energy, industry, lifestyle, innovation and finance. The symposium was moderated was Ms. Zheng Hong, Director-General of Center for International Economic and Technological Cooperation of MIIT. The Swedish company Sweco presented their plan of constructing China-EU Green and Digital Innovation (Taicang) Cooperation Zone. Experts from leading Chinese and European institutions delivered speeches at the symposium, including Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), EDF, Siemens, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken (SEB) of Sweden, Finnish Textile and Fashion Association, Technical University of Munich of Germany, Tencent, Haier, Jingdong Digital Technology Group, Beijing Financial Holding Group and Beijing Gas.
The China-Europe Carbon-Neutral City Forum (2022) was also held during the Conference. The forum was moderated by Mr. Ding Zhijun, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Energy Conservation and Comprehensive Utilization from MIIT and Mr. Yang Zijian, Chief of Public Policy from the China-EU Carbon Neutrality Cooperation Office. The Panelists represented Chinese and European government agencies including Copenhagen, Wuhan City, Sanya City and Taicang City, as well as social organizations and global leading enterprises including Sweden-China Greentech Alliance, China-Britain Business Council (CBBC), RINA, Roland Berger and Sweco. They exchanged views and shared insights on the pathway of synergistic green and digital transition and innovation practices in cities, contributing strategic and practical support for the construction of the China-EU Green and Digital Innovation Cooperation Zone and the implementation of the China-EU Carbon Neutrality Innovation Cooperation Pilot Projects.
The successful conclusion of the Green Sustainable Development Conference (2022) will demonstrate to the world that China's resolve to open up at a higher level will not change, nor will the historic mission of the international community to work together for win-win cooperation. China and Europe will join hands to leverage practical cooperation projects, in order to promote the innovative model of green and sustainable development featuring extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. Together, we will address the current challenges of world economic transition, and make economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all.
