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KUNMING, 16 June 2016 – The Seminar on Formulating ASEAN-China Environmental Cooperation Action Plan 2016-2020 was held on 14-15 June in Kunming, China. The seminar aims to operationalise the ASEAN-China Strategy on Environmental Cooperation (2016-2020) which was recently endorsed by senior officials on environment from both sides.

Part of the seminar was a technical field visit for the participants to witness how the Environmental Protection Bureau of Kunming Municipality utilises a state-of-the-art information and communications technology system to continuously monitor air and water pollution in the municipality, in close cooperation with private and public enterprises.

Among the activities to be included in the proposed five-year Action Plan are biennial high-level policy dialogues, joint research, capacity building and technical exchange in the areas of Environmental Data and Information Management, Environmental Impact Assessment, Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation, Environmentally Sustainable Cities, Environmental Industry and Technology for Green Development, and Environmental Education and Public Awareness.

Upcoming activities in 2016 include the China-ASEAN Environmental Cooperation Forum focusing on Sustainable Urban Transformation for Green Development to be held on 22-23 September in Nanning, China. The Action Plan will also contribute to the implementation of the post-2015 ASEAN Strategic Plan on Environment, the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint 2025, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Mr. Peng Bin, Director for China-ASEAN Environment Cooperation Centre, and Ms. Adelina Kamal, Director for Sustainable Development Directorate of the ASEAN Secretariat co-chaired the seminar. Senior officials from ASEAN Member States and China, and representatives from the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, United Nations Environment Programme, and national and local agencies in China attended. The seminar was organised by China-ASEAN Environment Cooperation Centre in close collaboration with ASEAN senior officials on environment and ASEAN Secretariat. The Centre was established in 2010 by the Ministry of Environmental Protection of China, following the endorsement of the ASEAN-China Strategy on Environmental Protection Cooperation (2009-2015) in 2009.

Source: www.asean.org