"China is an important partner for the German government. The range of environmental topics on which we cooperate bilaterally is impressive", said Federal Environment Minister Röttgen at a meeting with Chinese Environment Minister Zhou Shengxian in Berlin on 7 February 2012.
The exchange on bilateral environmental cooperation, which is carried out with the central planning commission alongside the bilateral climate cooperation, was at the heart of the meeting. The two governments have been holding a strategic environmental dialogue on substantial cooperation in important environmental topics such as plant safety, biodiversity conservation, water management and environment-friendly procurement since 2006.
Sino-German Environmental Forums bringing together representatives from politics, research and industry from both countries are a fundamental element of this cooperation. Both ministers agreed to organise the fourth Environmental Forum in Berlin in January 2013. During the meeting they commended the close cooperation. Minister Röttgen said: "Our successful cooperation is not solely the result of establishing standards. It is also due to the exchange of experience with implementing these standards between German and Chinese scientists."
Ministers Röttgen and Shengxian also discussed the inclusion of the aviation industry in the European emissions trading scheme. Federal Environment Minister Röttgen underlined that the EU would maintain its position on the subject.
In addition, issues of multilateral cooperation were discussed, in particular with regard to the preparation of the UN conference on sustainable development (Rio plus 20) which will take place in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012.