Bilateral Relations

Canada - China

Canada-China Framework Statement for Cooperation on Environment into the 21st Century

The Canada-China Framework Statement was signed during Premier Zhu Rongji's visit to Canada in November 1998 and reflects a shared interest in enhancing cooperation on environmental and sustainable development issues. It provides an umbrella for collaboration on the environment, especially climate change and sustainable development, through the coordination of all federal efforts with China on environmental and sustainable development issues. The Framework Statement created the Canada-China Joint Committee on Environment Cooperation (JCEC) with Environment Canada and the Chinese State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) as the lead agencies. The JCEC held its inaugural meeting on March 20-21, 2000. The fourth meeting took place in Montreal in April 2005 and focused on air pollution, environmental legislation and sustainable urbanisation. Most recently, China hosted the 5th meeting in Xi'an. Main topics discussed include environmental impact assessment; environmental emergencies and prepardness; and cooperation with environmental industries.

Memorandum of Understanding on Environmental Cooperation

The MOU on Environmental Cooperation between Environment Canada and the State Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) was renewed by the Ministers of Environment in September 2003 in Beijing. This is the second renewal since the signing of the first MOU in 1993. The MOU provides a framework for cooperation on regional and global environmental issues with a focus on transboundary air and toxic substance control, water resource management, smart growth and sustainable development, environmental management policies and regulations, ecosystem and biodiversity protection, as well as transfer of clean technologies. Through annual work plans, the MOU is implemented through workshops, missions, exchange of information, hosting Chinese officials and study tours.

Memorandum of Understanding on Science and Technology

In June 1986, Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) signed an MOU on Cooperative Meteorological Matters with the China Meteorological Administration (CMA). In October 2001 a renewed relationship was launched through a new MOU on Science and Technology. This MOU focuses on cooperation in Meteorology, Hydrology, Environmental Predictions and Climate Change. A Joint Working Group (JWG) meets every second year to review progress and agree on a work plan for the following biennium. The next meeting of the JWG will be held in Canada in the Spring of 2006.

Canada-China Cooperation in Climate Change Project (C 5)

The Environmental Technology Advancement Directorate (ETAD) was designated as the Canadian Executing Agency for the implementation of the Canada-China Cooperation in Climate Change Project (C5), in cooperation with Resource Futures International, who is responsible for the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) component. The $4.9 million bilateral project is being carried out over a two and a half year period, starting in May 2002. It is scheduled for completion by June 30, 2005. The main purpose of the C5 project was to help China mitigate the risks of global climate change by building its capacity in the areas of CDM, Awareness and Outreach, National Communications and Adaptation and Impacts.

Joint Statement Between the Government of Canada and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on Strengthened Dialogue and Cooperation on Climate Change

This Joint Statement was signed on October 22, 2003, in Beijing, China during the Prime Minister’s visit. The Statement reaffirms both countries’ commitment to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and to the Kyoto Protocol and confirms their mutual interest to enhance cooperation in climate change in areas such as policy dialogue, Clean Development Mechanism, clean technology, public awareness, energy efficiency and renewable energy, capacity building, climate science, impacts and adaptation and other climate change issues as mutually acceptable.

The Canada-China Climate Change Working Group (CCWG)

The Canada-China Climate Change Working Group was formed in March 2004, as a follow up to the Canada-China Joint Statement on Climate Change Cooperation. The Working Group co-ordinates and advances the bilateral effort to respond to climate change and is co-led by Environment Canada and Foreign Affairs Canada on the Canadian side and the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on the Chinese side.

The first CCWG meeting was held in Vancouver from March 29-30, 2004. Government officials from Canada and China representing various ministries and departments held frank and open discussions on the issues related to climate change while identifying opportunities for future cooperation in priority areas. In 2004, the CCWG focused its attention on clean technology, renewable energies and sustainable urban development.

The second CCWG meeting was held in Shenyang, China from July 18-21, 2005. Canadian officials from Environment Canada, Foreign Affairs Canada and Natural Resources Canada, together with Chinese officials from the National Development and Reform Commissions, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Science and Technology, State Environmental Protection Administration and China Metrological Administration were present at the meeting. Both sides exchanged views on key topics related to bilateral climate change cooperation and took the opportunity to discuss the 2005 UN climate change conference in Montreal (COP-11). The meeting also included a review of activities from the previous year (2004), a discussion on respective national climate change plans/strategies and the drafting of a work plan for the new program year (2005-2006).

Implementation

The International Relations Directorate's International Policy and Cooperation Branch has the overall lead for the Department's strategic relationship with China and specifically the Canada-China Joint Committee on Environment Cooperation. MSC manages the MOU on Cooperation in Science and Technology; the PYR manages the MOU on Environmental Cooperation; and ETAD is the Executing Agency for the Canada-China Cooperation in Climate Change Project (C5). China's State Environmental Protection Administration, the China Meteorological Administration and the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) are the coordinators for the implementation of the MOUs, the Framework Statement, and the C5 Project. The Climate Change Working Group under the Joint Statement is led on the Canadian side jointly by Environment Canada and the Department of Foreign Affairs, and on the Chinese side jointly by the NDRC and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Illustration of Work

Environment Canada's bilateral cooperation with China has recently included workshops, training and internships in Canadian institutions, mentoring senior Chinese officials, incoming and out-going missions and exchanges of documentation and publications. The main topics covered include climate change, sustainable development, integrated water resource management, transboundary air pollution and toxic substances control, protection of ecosystem and biodiversity, and technology transfer. MSC's scientific and technical support to the Mount Waliguan Global Atmosphere Site, for instance, has been instrumental in keeping this observatory operating. Other examples include:

• The Canada-China Experience-Sharing Symposium on Regional Airshed Management (September, 2003, Shenzhen, China), which was organized under the Canada-China and Canada-Hong Kong MOUs on Environmental Cooperation. This two-day symposium was an opportunity for Chinese, Hong Kong and Canadian experts to exchange information on air quality challenges and solutions in a regional airshed context. Over 50 mayors, local decision makers, industry stakeholders and academics participated in the symposium. The Canadian Minister of the Environment delivered a speech to the workshop participants to emphasize Canada’s commitment to global and regional environmental issues.
  
  
• The Environmental Mission to China, December 8 -18, 2003, which was jointly organized by Environment Canada, Industry Canada and the former Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and included stops in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong . The objective of the mission was to facilitate the transfer of Canadian environmental technologies and know-how to China, and foster partnerships between environmental industries in both countries. Fifteen companies across Canada participated, bringing expertise, solutions and products on waste and wastewater treatment, air quality management, climate change and clean production technology to China. The delegation was also involved in the largest Chinese-organized environmental trade show in Beijing.