On the occasion of the first Sino-German intergovernmental consultations in Berlin on 27 and 28 June, 2011 Federal Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen held talks with Zhang Ping, Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of the People's Republic of China, and Li Gan Jie, Vice Minister for the Environment.
Both ministers commended the close bilateral environment and climate protection cooperation, in particular with regard to the promotion of innovative low-carbon development approaches. The far-reaching decisions of the German government on the new direction in energy policy and the stipulations of the 12th Chinese five-year plan reflect the ambitious position of both sides and constitute an important basis for cooperation.
The Vice Minister for the Environment Li Gan Jie and Federal Environment Minister Röttgen agreed to launch the Fourth Sino-German Environment Forum, in which German and Chinese companies participate, in the second half of 2012. The focus is likely to be on water management, conservation of biological diversity, chemicals safety and the safety of installations, circular economy and emissions reductions in urban areas and industrial plants.
NDRC Chairman Zhang Ping and Minister Röttgen signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Recycling of Power Batteries for Electric Vehicles.