The China International Youth Exchange Center (CIYEC) and the American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmCham China) held the Seminar for US-China Enterprises on Green Development Cooperation on Jan 19 in Beijing.

Representatives from Chinese and US enterprises engaged in in-depth exchanges with a focus on jointly promoting green development and global governance, and reached extensive consensus.

Noting that the world is currently experiencing climate change on a scale not seen in nearly a century, Zhang Hua, Director of the CIYEC, said that strengthening cooperation in climate change response and promoting green development is a common responsibility shared by both Chinese and US enterprises. This effort is not only conducive to promoting the sound development of China-US relations, but also beneficial for facilitating the building of a global climate governance system, according to him.

Zhang said that the CIYEC is willing to work with AmCham China to actively implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state at the San Francisco meeting, enhance communication among young entrepreneurs from China and the US, promote the establishment of a mechanism for their practical cooperation in emissions reduction, in order to inject more stability and certainty into China-US relations through win-win cooperation and mutually beneficial development, and contribute to the full implementation of the Paris Agreement.

Michael Hart, President of AmCham China, noted that US and Chinese enterprises have huge space for cooperation in trade and green development. He expressed his hope that the CIYEC and AmCham China will seize the opportunities brought about by the meeting between the two heads of state in San Francisco and the Sunnylands Statement on Enhancing Cooperation to Address the Climate Crisis, continuously deepen practical cooperation and promote the positive development of US-China relations.

Given AmCham China’s numerous members, with nearly 1,000 enterprises spanning various industries, Hart said, the organization looks forward to initiating exchanges and dialogues with the CIYEC and fostering cooperation in economic and trade collaboration, cultural exchanges, and addressing climate change, to help enterprises from both sides find innovative solutions and cooperation opportunities for green development. This will set an example for global development and contribute to global economic recovery, he added.

Chen Zhihua, Deputy Director of the National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation, gave a special presentation on the latest developments in China-US cooperation on climate change response. He said that China-US cooperation in green innovation and development has promoted low-carbon economic transformation, and the revival of the China-US Climate Action Working Group will help deepen green industrial cooperation among enterprises from the two countries and improve the quality and level of the circular economy and resource utilization efficiency.

Wang Hao, Deputy Division-Chief of Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutralization Division of Department of Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection at National Development and Reform Commission, introduced China’s progress in advancing the dual carbon goals. Noting that China and the US, under the framework of the Sunnylands Statement on Enhancing Cooperation to Address the Climate Crisis, will establish or relaunch platforms for practical cooperation, he expressed the hope that enterprises of both countries will enhance communication and cooperation in green and low-carbon fields, share the outcomes of green and low-carbon development, and work together to address climate change.

During the event, representatives of enterprises from China and the US engaged in candid exchanges on such topics as the New Path for Green Development Cooperation between US-China Enterprises and Building a Green Future Through Multi-party Cooperation, through which constructive and innovative practical solutions were proposed.

Participants widely agreed that on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of China-US diplomatic relations, the seminar serves as an important measure in implementing the consensus reached at the San Francisco meeting on promoting cooperation in sustainable development and facilitating the stable, sound and sustainable development of the China-US economic and trade ties through concrete actions. Enterprises from both sides have enhanced mutual understanding through exchanges and dialogues, exploring new paths for future cooperation.

In their key remarks, heads of tech companies such as Dell Technologies and Xiaomi Inc. said that Chinese and US enterprises should strengthen cooperation in such fields as the digital economy, artificial intelligence and green supply chains, and promote the conservation, intensive utilization and recycling of resources, so as to actively establish a greener and more sustainable partnership between China-US enterprises.

Heads of CNPC Safety and Environmental Protection Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd. and JA Solar Technology Co., Ltd. suggested that Chinese and US enterprises should leverage their respective strengths to jointly develop technologies that feature highly-efficient energy conservation and emissions reduction, as well as new renewable energy, to contribute to the green transformation and development of enterprises worldwide. Representatives from Merck Holding (China) Co., Ltd. and National Energy Investment Group Co., Ltd. suggested accelerating the building of cooperation platforms for young entrepreneurs from China and the US, enhancing regular dialogue and communication mechanism, and facilitating the deepening of cooperation in the green economy, green innovation and green supply chains among Chinese and US enterprises. Experts and scholars from the Development Research Center of the State Council and the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission gave suggestions on promoting the establishment of standards for technological cooperation and development, jointly expanding third-party international markets and establishing legal risk evaluation mechanisms for environmental protection.

Prior to the seminar, the CIYEC and AmCham China exchanged views on promoting the building of a platform for cooperation between young entrepreneurs from China and the US, and further facilitating cultural exchanges. Jia Tiesong, Deputy Director of the CIYEC, presided over the seminar. Claire Ma, Vice President of AmCham China, along with more than 40 representatives of enterprises from China and the US, attended the seminar.