China and Germany plan to further intensify their already close cooperation in the field of environmental protection. A Sino-German Strategic Environment Dialogue will be established. Cooperation on chemicals management will also be broadened.
Minister Zhou Shengxian of the State Environmental Protection Administration of China and German Federal Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel met for talks on 7 December 2006 in Beijing. They agreed to broaden the bilateral cooperation by establishing a Sino-German Strategic Environment Dialogue. The main elements of the Strategic Dialogue will be
- the continuation of the successful Sino-German Environment Fora and in addition
- annual meetings on Director General level for exchanges on the implementation of important environmental policies.
The annual meetings involving representatives of other ministries and business representatives should aim at concrete projects and investments. In this way they will advance the strategic partnership on the environment agreed upon by the two countries in January 2006.
Both sides decided to schedule the first annual meeting for the second half of 2007. It will focus on:
It is planned that the meeting in 2008 will be held in conjunction with the next Sino-German Environment Forum.
Both sides also expressed their satisfaction with cooperation to date in the field of chemicals management. Furthermore, both sides agreed to broaden cooperation in this field.
Both sides agreed that the cooperation in the field of chemicals management is suitable for a continuous broadening and intensifying of existing friendly and cooperative relations between China and Germany. In view of the fact that chemicals are produced in numerous plants and are used on a daily basis, both sides declared the common goal of protecting man and the environment against chemicals, particularly those with hazardous properties.
Both sides declared their intention that both ministries as cooperation partners will carry out concrete projects in the framework of existing resources. Both ministries consider law-making, emergency response measures and risk management to be priority areas of cooperation in the field of chemicals management. Both sides wish to begin with eleven projects in the above-mentioned three areas. These projects comprise laws and ordinances, capacity building, measures and funding in the field of chemicals management and preventive and aftercare measures for chemical accidents with harmful environmental impacts, also undertaken by industry. Both sides will broaden their cooperation in the field of chemicals management in due course.
Both sides referred to the mutual exchange of information, mutual visits by experts, joint consultations and the organisation of meetings and expert symposiums as possible options for cooperation. Both ministries welcome the participation of representatives from other authorities and from business and research in the cooperation.
Furthermore, both sides agreed to establish a joint technical working group in order to evaluate the ongoing projects and their results, and to identify further projects. Meetings of this working group will be held at least once a year, alternately in China and Germany.
Both sides expressed their wish to contribute to a more environmentally sound chemicals management worldwide in the spirit of the Johannesburg Summit on Sustainable Development.