President Zhu Liyang Received Singapore National Climate Change Delegation

2024-09-18

On September 12, Mr. Joseph Teo, Chief Negotiator for Climate Change of the Ministry of Sustainable Development and the Environment of Singapore, led a delegation to visit China Association of Circular Economy (CACE). President Zhu Liyang received the delegation.

President Zhu Liyang firstly welcomed the delegation and briefly introduced to the delegation the effectiveness of China's circular economy development in recent years, as well as the focus of the CACE in serving the government, enterprises and industries. He pointed out that the Chinese government attaches great importance to the development of circular economy, and takes it as an important measure to realize the goal of "double carbon". In terms of international cooperation, CACE actively cooperates with the intergovernmental cooperation mechanism and carries out international exchanges and cooperation, for example, under the guidance of the Sino-US "The Sunnylands Statement on Enhancing Cooperation to Address the Climate Crisis", CACE has successfully organized the first US-China Circular Economy Cooperation Forum and other activities. China and Singapore have a long-term and stable cooperative relationship. Recently, approved by the State Council and issued by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the "Implementation Plan for the Construction of a National Green Development Demonstration Area in the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city (2024-2035)" provides a systematic deployment for the next step in accelerating the development of green and low-carbon industries in the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city, China's first National Green Development Demonstration Area. He concluded by expressing his hope that the two sides will strengthen extensive exchanges in the areas of water recycling, comprehensive utilization of municipal construction waste, food waste resource utilization, as well as the R&D and application of CCS and CCUS technologies, so as to promote practical cooperation on circular economy between the two sides.

Mr. Joseph Teo expressed his gratitude to the warm reception of CACE and briefly introduced the purpose of the delegation to China, which was based on the Third Sino-Singapore Bilateral Consultation on Climate Change to facilitate the smooth convening of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Baku (COP29). He emphasized that Singapore also attaches great importance to the development of a circular economy and the promotion of resource conservation and efficient use. As an important way to mitigate and adapt to climate change, the development of a circular economy has been incorporated into the national strategy to address climate change, with corresponding strategic directions and targets. At the same time, taking into account the national situation of Singapore, he briefly introduced Singapore's key actions in alleviating water scarcity and building a closed-loop system for water recycling; reducing food waste and promoting zero-waste and resource utilization of e-waste and packaging waste. He said that circular economy is also an important part of the cooperation and dialogue between the governments of China and Singapore, and that he would like to continue to strengthen exchanges with CACE, explore the direction of cooperation between the two sides on topics of common concerns, such as the circular economy contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and work together to address global challenges, such as climate change.

Guo Yiran, Director of Singapore National Climate Change Secretariat (NCCS) of Prime Minister’s Office Singapore - Strategy Group (PMO-SG), Cheah Sin Liang, Deputy Director (Global Partnerships) of Singapore NCCS of PMO-SG, Ng Hao Wen, Assistant Director (Climate Change Negotiation Office) of Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) and Isabelle Lim, Manager (Mitigation Policy) of Singapore NCCS of PMO-SG accompanied the delegation to the meeting. Guo Zhanqiang, Secretary General of CACE, as well as relevant persons in charge of the International Cooperation Department, the Strategic Planning Department, and the Carbon Peak and Working Committee participated in the meeting.