News

Ambassador welcomes cooperation with China

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-12-23 07:57

Dear Reader,

China has had an impressive industrial, economic and social development over the past 30 years. However, this economic development has come at a cost. Huge increases in the emissions of greenhouse gases and pollution in the air, water and land are all having a serious impact on the health and well-being of its people and on its ecosystems. These environmental challenges have now been fully recognized by the Chinese leadership and many steps are being taken to address them.

Norway and China have a mutual interest in combating deteriorating environments and have cooperated on environmental issues for more than a decade. Last year, the collaboration was strengthened when Norway and China signed a bilateral Framework Agreement on Climate Change Cooperation and Dialogue and revised their Memorandum of Understanding on Environmental Cooperation. These MoUs provide the main platform for our future collaboration on environmental issues.

Norway supports many projects that contribute to China's implementation of global environmental conventions. These projects draw on highly skilled Chinese and Norwegian partners with core competences in the areas singled out for collaboration. Our main goal is to strengthen environmental management at all levels. The countries respective Ministries of Environmental Protection collaborate closely in the selection and follow up of the areas designated for cooperation, including several concrete projects.

Norway attaches great importance to the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) and is one of its key financial supporters. Through Chinese and international high-level participation, the CCICED undertakes major environmental studies and delivers its findings directly to the Chinese government. This makes it a unique mechanism. Norway is pleased to have so many of its experts involved with the CCICED and is particularly proud that its former minister for the environment holds the post of vice-chair.

As the largest producer of coal in the world and the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, China has an important role to play in reducing the emission of climate-damaging gases. The country has set itself ambitious national targets on energy efficiency and renewable energy and its participation as a responsible international player at the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen is encouraging. We need China's support in setting a far-seeing goal for reducing global greenhouse gas emissions.

In retrospect, 2009 has been an important year for China. Its fiscal stimulus package, presented as a response to the economic crisis, has provided opportunities to initiate a move towards a low-carbon and green economy. China's need for a new development path is not only a challenge, but also represents an opportunity for innovation and a highly needed restructure of its industrial base.

2009 was also very important year for Sino-Norwegian relations. We celebrated 55 years of diplomatic relations this year, relations that are excellent and dynamic in a number of areas, ranging from the environment, energy, and trade to cultural exchanges, research collaboration, education and tourism.

It is my hope that the relations between China and Norway will continue to deepen in the years to come. Norway looks forward to enhance collaboration with China in the environmental, energy and other sectors to address common opportunities and challenges.

Svein O. Sther

The Norwegian Ambassador to China

(China Daily 12/23/2009 page12)