[Asia Economy Reporter Eunju Lee] The Ministry of Environment of Korea and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China are strengthening cooperation to reduce fine dust.
On the afternoon of the 28th, the two ministries held the "6th Korea-China Environmental Directors' Meeting" via video conference at the Hangang Flood Control Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, to discuss ways to enhance cooperation in reducing fine dust and achieving carbon neutrality.
The meeting was attended by Ahn Se-chang, Director of Climate Change Policy at the Ministry of Environment, and Zhou Guomei, Director of International Cooperation Department at China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment, as chief representatives. The two countries reviewed the establishment of the "2nd Korea-China Environmental Cooperation Plan" (2023?2027) and the progress of the Cheongcheon (晴天) Plan, a joint cooperation plan for air pollution and climate change response.
At the meeting, both sides reaffirmed the need for Korea-China cooperation to address environmental issues such as fine dust reduction and carbon neutrality in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and China. They also agreed to expand cooperation by establishing the "2nd Korea-China Environmental Cooperation Plan," which will be applied for five years starting next year, at the annual Korea-China ministerial meeting scheduled for the first half of next year.
The meeting also reviewed the implementation status of the 2022 Cheongcheon (晴天) Plan. The Cheongcheon Plan is a cooperation plan signed for joint response to air pollution and climate change, consisting of nine key projects: ▲exchange of air pollution prevention policies and technologies ▲joint implementation of seasonal management measures ▲exchange of automobile emission control policies and technologies ▲exchange of carbon neutrality and greenhouse gas policies ▲Cheongcheon Conference ▲exchange of air quality forecast information and forecasting technologies ▲joint research on three-dimensional observation methods, chemical component characteristic observation, and numerical models ▲environmental technology industry cooperation forum ▲air environment industry expo. Both countries evaluated that the Cheongcheon Plan has contributed to concretizing environmental cooperation between the two nations and agreed to continue developing it.
Ahn Se-chang, Director of Climate Change Policy, stated, "We will strengthen cooperation to solve common challenges such as fine dust and climate change response, and strive to expand exchanges between the two countries to improve environmental issues in the Northeast Asia region."
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